LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Kathleen Freeman was nominated by her associate superintendent, Kelly Schumacher.

Ms. Freeman is a gifted teacher who has been a true trailblazer in Klein ISD. No matter what type of learner Ms. Freeman had the joy to teach, she could always find a way to help them reach their potential in a creative, personalized way. This made her students feel valued and special.

One of Ms. Freeman's most notable accomplishments was her dream to enrich gifted learners in a multi-aged classroom by using innovative curriculum and learning strategies that foster a curious, collaborative learning environment with high expectations . She was the first teacher in her school district to partner with Advanced Academics to research, design, and apply a specific gifted curriculum with a focus on innovation and improving student learning. Any time you had the honor to be in Ms. Freeman's classroom, you could see a combined classroom of students in grades 3-5 who would confidently use a Socratic seminar through learning classical literature, Latin, and advanced math and science open-ended challenges and real-world connections. The program Ms. Freeman helped design and implement was built on a foundation of relationship-focused teachers, seamless differentiation, project-based learning, and a technology-rich environment. Her footprint of innovation, high-quality teaching, and collaborative learning experiences will always be cherished and remembered by her students, their families, and staff across Klein ISD.