Kim Burtis Winsor is among several LCA staff members who willingly took on whatever job needed doing – “as long as it wasn’t teaching math.” She was hired in 1980 as full-time librarian and taught a 10th grade English class. Over the years she taught most levels of high school English, psychology, and middle school geography, besides advising the yearbook staff. Headmaster Art Hill called her his “great utility infielder,” but he didn’t know the half of it. For most of her time at LCA, Kim was an unflappable, utterly reliable administrator. She took on day-to-day administrative duties at Ray Martin’s request when he became Interim Headmaster in 1989. She added Middle School Coordinator when 6th grade was added in 1990, and gradually added more administrative duties during Barry Koops’ tenure, including staff evaluations. She took on curriculum planning, and created the highly-regarded Cultivating Inquiry conference for teachers. When an administrator and part-time dorm parent was needed at the dorm for international students, Kim took on that pioneering role and created a comprehensive handbook for future staff there. Utility infielder indeed!
Always deeply committed to faith-infused learning, Kim is especially proud of Cultivating Inquiry.
“It was a result of my dissertation research. I found that many Christian schools were trying to integrate faith and learning, but they were frustrated, partly due to a lack of quality resources. Cathy VanderBrug and I searched out well-known national speakers who would come to a conference to fill the resource gap. We were able to attract some excellent speakers [over the years], such as Nicholas Wolterstorff, Steven Garber, David Naugle, Gabe Lyons, Andy Crouch, and David Kinneman. Responses were enthusiastic across the board, which encouraged us to continue. It’s a crucial service for our faculty and for other schools. It’s the kind of thing that you can never check off – there’s always faculty turnover, and everyone needs to keep thinking deliberately about how to incorporate faith in the learning that goes on in their classrooms – as Christians how do we do academics?”
Throughout her administrative tenure Kim mentored faculty and staff members. They relied on her common sense and discernment in dealing with students, parents, and curricular issues. So did many students, especially those who dealt with health issues. She encouraged and sympathized with them and their teachers as she helped them extend deadlines and pare down requirements to manageable levels. Staff members of Kim’s era fondly remember the monthly sheet cakes she baked to celebrate the birthdays of everyone in the building. Students and staff alike remember the Mustang convertibles she always drove.
Kim’s doctoral research also prompted her to partner with Ellen Gabrielse in recording and preserving Christian High/LCA’s history. One result of their efforts is the timeline now on the school’s website. After retiring at LCA, Kim took on mentoring Gordon College student teachers, a role she continues to enjoy and excel at. Her passion for compelling, thoroughly Christian education continues to bless New England.