Paws and Purpose

Paws and Purpose

By Kyle Nichols

     In Turner Falls, Massachusetts, Kim Barry takes pride in educating her students while also extending her love for animals to them. For nearly three years, Kim has been a passionate educator with a deep love for animals in the school’s science department. She enjoys incorporating animals into her work for her students to get a better understanding. “I enjoy taking something I love with something I’m trying to educate my students about,” Kim said. “It would be very easy for me to just show diagrams and make slide shows, but that doesn’t mean these children will learn.”

     Kim believes in the power of hands-on learning, and her students eagerly immerse themselves in the world of veterinary science, guided by her expertise and passion. This past year, Kim helped mentor her students at a Future Farmers of America competition in Hanover, Massachusetts, where students got to compete with horses in showmanship and evaluation competitions. Kim also enjoys bringing in animals to her classes to give her students the ability to see animals they might not see on a regular basis. “Students don’t often get exposure to these types of animals,” Kim said. “Whether in daily life you’re seeing a snake in your yard versus working in a veterinary facility, having that exposure is pretty important.” These experiences help her classes extend their learning beyond class work and grow their love for animals.

    But Kim’s dedication goes beyond the classroom walls. She is a strong supporter of Canines for Disabled Kids (CDK), an organization close to her heart. Kim collaborates closely with Kristin Hartness, CDK’s executive director, to educate her students about service animals. Kim has helped CDK make appearances at the school multiple times to educate students on the impact of service animals and how they interact with their humans. “The work that CDK does is very important,” Kim said. “Not only do they help families by connecting them with service dogs, but they also choose to educate people about what they do and how to make a difference. That is so important.” Kim tries to emphasize the work that CDK does by bringing them and other service dogs into the classroom to educate the children on how these animals help other people and why it’s important for them to be able to do their jobs.

     Through her work in the classroom and the community, Kim Barry looks to engage her students in ways that not only make them want to gain knowledge, but also to understand compassion and have respect for the world around them. Her ability and desire to blend education with real world experience leaves a lasting impression on the children she mentors. With each lesson, animal visit and partnership, Kim plants seeds of curiosity, kindness and responsibility that her students will carry with them long into the future.