Biography

Dr. Barbara Kimzey

Dr. Barbara R. Kimzey began her career in education as a teacher of English and of German at the high school level in Texas. As a military spouse during the bulk of her career, family moves were frequent, and Dr. Kimzey taught and/or volunteered in a variety of locations within the United States and in Germany.   While in Virginia, Dr. Kimzey was promoted to high school assistant principal in the urban high school where she had been teaching. As an assistant principal she collaborated with the district’s technology department to develop and pilot an online longitudinal data system that was then implemented throughout the district’s PK-12 schools, with Dr. Kimzey providing the professional development to all district administrators on system implementation. Dr. Kimzey was then selected for promotion to middle school principal in a neighboring Virginia urban district, leading the school from a state designation of “accreditation denied” to earning full accreditation, while also significantly improving teacher retention through implementation of a coaching support protocol. During her time as a principal, Dr. Kimzey was recognized twice as the secondary principal of the year by the city-wide PTA for her support and meaningful engagement with families. Dr. Kimzey was then selected to serve as the Executive Director of Secondary Schools and Programs in another neighboring urban district where she supported secondary principals in their efforts to improve student achievement, decrease dropout rates, decrease student grade-level retention, and increase teacher and staff retention through implementation of effective data analysis protocols and implementation of effective interventions, including alternative learning models. In that same urban district, Dr. Kimzey was then promoted to Chief Schools Officer where she led the district in the development and implementation of multi-tiered systems of support to ensure systemic, proactive support for students in the district’s schools. Under her leadership, the district reduced chronic absenteeism among students, while focusing upon improving on-time graduation rates and reduced dropout rates.

Dr. Kimzey holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in German from Texas Tech University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Midwestern State University. While enrolled at The College of William and Mary as she pursued her Doctor of Education in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership, Dr. Kimzey conducted and successfully defended a three-year action research dissertation study that documented her work as an urban middle school principal in significantly improving student achievement by supporting teachers in making lasting changes in instructional and classroom systems practices. Dr. Kimzey is a member of AASA, ASCD, NASSP, Learning Forward, CASE, and CASB.

Dr. Kimzey is the proud mother of two grown daughters who work in the technology field. She enjoys spending time with her family, hiking with her dog, gardening, reading, and exploring Pueblo, her new hometown, where she is looking forward to growing deep and enduring roots in the community.

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