Some people pick their profession, while for others their profession picks them. Karin Simms says that from an early age knew that she wanted to be a teacher and touch the lives of students.

“As a girl, I would set up my dolls and stuffed animals and teach them. Dad and my two older sisters are all teachers. It was just a perfect fit.  Once I started, I realized that my dad was right.  He always told us that teaching allowed him to get paid to play with mathematics all day.  So between getting to teach students and playing with mathematics all day, I just can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Sims teaches Algebra One and Algebra Two at Hobart High School. Her husband, Travis, is a teacher and a coach. They have three kids; 25-year-old Colton, who is married to Rebecca, 21-year-old Jaci, and 11-year-old Jaxon. She has been at Hobart for 10 years, but before coming here Karin taught at Locust Grove Middle School, Stigler Elementary, and a few schools in Texas.

Sims says that there are so many things that she enjoys about being a teacher.

“I love interacting with the kids and becoming part of their ‘extended family’,” she said. “I’ve had the opportunity here in the small town of Hobart to teach some kids for several years and to see them grow and mature has been fun.  I also really love seeing that moment when a kid gets it in math. Plus, that getting to play with mathematics all day isn’t bad either.”

 While she has always wanted to be a teacher, Karin says that she had some teachers that had an impact on her. 

“Many teachers along the way have impacted my life,” she said. “But my senior English teacher, Pat Sturm, and my junior and senior math teacher, Cheryl Leonard, both made huge impacts on my life as a high school student.”

Over the years, Sims has been given a lot of different advice, some of which she still carries with her today.

“They have to know you care before they will care what you know,” she said. “That has always stayed in my mind, and I’ve worked hard to make sure my students know that I care about them more than just in my class.”