Kim Estes
Educator - Collaborator - Communicator - Leader
Profile

Kim Estes
24 Years of Experience in Education
Welcome to my site! I am a teacher and instructional technologist with over two decades of experience in education. I have proudly served in public education in Texas in several roles at the campus and district level. I have presented at the state, national, and international level. I am the proud wife of a retired Navy Chief, grateful mother to six wonderful children, and blessed Gigi to three beautiful grandchildren. Please tour my site to learn more

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Resume
Resume
Education
Sam Houston State University
EdD - Instructional Systems Design and Technology
08.2019 - Present
I am currently a doctoral candidate enrolled in the Instructional Systems Design and Technology program through Sam Houston State University. I took one semester off to help my daughter with the arrival of her latest child and to take care of my mother when my father passed away from Covid-19 related illness in April of 2020. I am reenrolled and will rejoin the cohort in January 2021.
Lamar University
Master's Degree - Educational Technology Leadership
01.2009 - 12.2010
I graduated from Lamar University’s Educational Technology Leadership Masters’ program with a 4.0 GPA.
University of Phoenix
Master's Degree - Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Computer Education
08.2005 - 08.2007
I completed my Masters’ in Curriculum and Instruction in two years, completely online while working as a Learning Technologies Coach full time.
Jacksonville State University
Bachelor of Arts Degree - English with a Minor in Art History
08.1991 - 12.1993
I obtained my Bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University after also attending classes at Shippensburg University and Florida State University (Panama Canal Campus). I travelled extensively with my family as my father was in the military.
Employment
Senior Instructional Designer
Tarrant County College - Connect Campus
06.2021 - Present
As Senior Instructional Designer for TCC-CN Campus, I manage a team of six who work to help our online faculty design inclusive, accessible courses that follow best practices in online learning, meet RSI standards, and maximize the tools in our Canvas LMS installation. I lead a district-level goals team, and serve on several campus and district-wide committees. I have revamped the Peer Developed Course process, manage the Online Instructor Certification course for the district, and collaborate with other departments throughout the college to meet campus and district goals.
Teacher (Classroom & Online)
Cleburne ISD
08.2019 - 06.2021
This is my second year at Cleburne High School and my first teaching students entirely remotely (due to Covid-19). I teach Eng 1, Eng 1 Pre-AP, and Eng 2 online using the Canvas LMS. Last year, I taught in the classroom and ran social media for the campus. I was named Cleburne HS Teacher of the Year and Cleburne ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year for 2020.
Lead Learning Technologies Coach
Burleson ISD
05.2016 - 08.2019
As the Lead Learning Technologies Coach for Burleson ISD I was responsible for supervising, assigning, and evaluating a team of 4 Learning Technologies Coaches. I managed the purchasing and travel budget for the department and consulted on district-level spending on educational technology. I served on the Technology Leadership Team, helped earn and maintained the Google Reference District appellation, and was responsible for all educational technology professional development in the district.
Secondary Learning Technologies Coach
Burleson ISD
08.2006 - 05.2016
As the Secondary Learning Technologies Coach I handle the day-to-day requirements for educational technology integration for the district. I was responsible for the district Chromebook Pilot that lead to a district-wide rollout of Chromebooks grades 3-12. I was responsible for the BrightBytes and 8th Grade Technology Learning Assessment and the reporting of all data from those assessments. I was responsible for professional development district-wide. I earned over $300,000 in grants for the district, was awarded a downlink with the International Space Station, built and maintained the Learning Technologies website (including live chat help), and was
Certifications
- Principal Certification EC-12
- Master Technology Teacher EC-12
- Secondary English 6-12
- ESL Supplemental EC-12
- Certified Google Trainer
Professional Skills
Software Tools
Interpersonal Skills
Awards & Recognition
- 2019 – Burleson ISD Technology Leadership Team Member (5 Years)
- 2018 – Kerr Middle School Support Staff of the Year
- 2016 – REALM Gaming/Coding Secondary School Planning Team Member
- 2015 – TCEA Instructional Technology Specialist of the Year
- 2015 – Student Spaceflight Experiment Program Innovation Team Member
- 2007 – Crossroads High School Support Staff of the Year
- 2020 – ESC 11 Teacher of the Year Nominee – Essay Award Winner
- 2020 – Cleburne ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year
- 2020 – Cleburne High School Teacher of the Year
- 2005 – Alvarado High School Teacher of the Year
- 2018 – XQ Grant Finalist
- 2017 – TEA Technology Lending Program Grant ($100,000)
- 2013 – Fuel Up to Play 60 and Dairy Max Grant ($60,000)
- 2008 – NASA ISS Downlink Grant Recipient
- Texas Computer Educators Association
- Delta Kappa Gamma (International Society for Key Women Educators)
- 2006 – Yellow Rose of Texas, conferred by Governor Rick Perry
Portfolio
Portfolio
Choose a category. To view the post for each portfolio item, click the title.
Testimonials
Testimonials
Ben Renner – Principal, Cleburne High School, Cleburne ISD

“Kim is willing to help anyone at any time — students, staff, community members — anyone. She tutored students that were not in her class and she was very helpful with her technology skills. She helped teachers on the other side of the building. She would really do anything for anyone. Kim is simply amazing. If we paid her by the hour, it would bankrupt the district. She never quits working and she can do anything. During basketball season, Kim was picked for making a difference by five different basketball players. She is special — and she does make a…
India Garms – Teacher, Cleburne High School, Cleburne ISD

If anyone was to be awarded Teacher of the Year as a newbie to the campus and district, it’s gotta be Kim. Even as she was learning the Cleburne ropes, she was taking other newbies under her wing and insisting that we all learn together. That’s what good teachers do. Kim sees everyone as a potential student, no matter who they are. I was lucky enough to be her next-door classroom neighbor last year and definitely ended up in her room on more than one occasion needing help. I was always met with patience and care. I am so grateful…

Kim designs training appropriate for the least technological to the most advanced. She is patient with the novices, but she challenges the experts and pushes them beyond their abilities. Our district is light years from where we were before Kim came to us. Her innovation has brought a massive amount of knowledge and tools into our hands, allowing us to provide our students with a truly excellent education. They leave us ready to conquer the world. For that matter, our teachers move onto other districts spoiled rotten and missing Kim’s support and expertise.

I cannot say enough about how wonderful Kim is. She is always willing to offer help and additional training for our staff. Regardless of how many times she may have offered help before, she always has a wonderful attitude and desire to see people “get it”. Kim is always prompt, patient and professional. She always makes the learning experience fun when it could easily be stressful. She has shown our department how to make our work lives easier through utilizing the available technologies, and for that we are incredibly grateful!

Over the course of 11 years working with Kim in various projects to promote learning among a wide range of students, I have found her singularly focused upon the mantra of “the tool doesn’t matter if the learning doesn’t happen”. I hear teachers at every campus on which she serves speak, without exception of her patience, value, and determination to help them succeed in promoting student learning.

Her innovative use of technology inspires and brings joy to hundreds of district employees, which, in turn, inspires and brings joy to thousands of students. From the tech savvy teacher who is yearning for more, to the 30 year veteran who is nervous using email, Kim brings about a confidence to fulfill all needs. Her passion goes so much beyond her job description. She will go above and beyond to assist me, as a campus instructional leader. If I didn’t have a campus to run, I could write about her for hours.

Kim has taken me from basic applications to being able to imagine that I can create a unit that incorporates technology to connect with other campuses all over the country. Kim’s leadership in creating classrooms that not only use technology but deepen the learning because of the technology is undeniable.

Kim has been critical to the development and implementation of creative and authentic learning in the district. Her knowledge of curriculum and technology help campus staff weave technology into lessons and projects that make them exciting and dynamic. She also serves as a fountain of knowledge for best practices and methods to use technology.
Lisa Townzen – Assistant Principal, Kerr Middle School Burleson ISD

On paper, Kim is an educator’s dream. It is however, her strength of character and natural charisma that, when combined with her innate intelligence and work ethic, make her a complete candidate. As most in the profession know, there is an intrinsic quality in all good educators that involves the coalescence of a broad knowledge base, genuine passion for subject, and a strong sense of self. I believe Kim has all these traits.

In 29 years of teaching, I have never known anyone with more knowledge of technology and curriculum, and who has a greater capacity to envision lessons that integrate the two. Regardless of the curriculum I bring to her, she is able to create a lesson that implements exactly what I or the teacher asked for. She is an engaging instructor, able to get work out of the proverbial turnip. This includes teachers and students.
Contacts
Contacts
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