Kim Bates, an Instructional Technology Coach at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School, is the Newport News Public School Middle School Teacher of the Year. After completing Old Dominion University’s Career Switcher Program, education became Bates’ third career. She started her teaching career at Crittenden Middle School in technology education and has worked as a technology teacher at Heritage High School.

Bates coordinated the school district’s involvement with SeaPerch, an underwater remotely operated vehicle competition, and founded the Tidewater SeaPerch District Competition. She also created STEM (science, technology, engineer and mathematics education) Saturdays, which provides hands-on projects and learning opportunities for students at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School.

Bates has 10 years of teaching experience. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology at Virginia Tech University and has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from Old Dominion University.