POTW: Kristin Fox, Northeast Ohio Impact Academy-Campbell City Schools

Each week, the #SpanningtheNeed podcast will present an “Inspirational Person of the Week’ and have a “Q & A” with one of its many gifted individuals and/or groups who are willing to go out of their own way to help others. This week’s featured is Kristin Fox from NEOIA-Campbell City Schools. |  Nominate Someone Now!

Name: Kristin Fox
Position:  Associate Principal
School District:  Northeast Ohio Impact Academy-Campbell City Schools

What made you want to go into the education field?
Education is in my blood, literally. My family comes from a long line of educators. Playing school as a child was something I naturally loved to do because of the influence my mom an the other educators in my family had on my life. Working wit and having an impact on childrens lives on a regular basis is something that is extremely near and dear to me.

What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful in education?
The various opportunities that I’ve had to work in multiple settings. My educational career has afforded me the opportunity to work with students from various socio-economic backgrounds and experiences. I have also had the great opportunity to work under what I would consider the best administrators anyone could ask for as mentors to a successful career.

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What is the best advice you can give future educators or the public?
I would most definitely recommend taking the opportunity to truly get to know your students. Many state mandates and other professional requirements sometimes push us away from what drove us to the profession in the first place, children. I believe it is important to truly get to know the whole child. Often, many of our students come from situation that we will never live in our lifetime and we expect so much of them without truly understanding who they are and where they come from. I also believe that it is extremely important to realize that this profession is so much more than a job. Teaching is truly a calling that is not for everyone but rather for those who want to make a lasting impact on a child’s life in a positive manner.

If you could start all over again, what would you do differently regarding your profession? 
For the most part, there is not much that I would change about my career. I absolutely love the journey that I’ve been on throughout this career and the opportunities that I’ve been afforded. I would, however, have loved the opportunity to work in the same district that my children attend. My children attend Struthers City Schools where I once taught at the middle school. I think it would’ve been great to walk the halls with them as their teacher. But I also like to see you get to go to school and just be their own selves and not be Mrs. Fox’s son or daughter.

What song best describes you or is the soundtrack to your life?
I love this question! I don’t think I’ve ever been asked this in my life. One song that I would say best describes me is “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. The verse, This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
Truly symbolizes my life especially over the past 2 1/2 years overcoming my illness.

What is your best accomplishment/experience in life?
My children are by far my greatest accomplishment. Oh my two children are by far two of the most resilient and strong adolescents I’ve ever met in my life. What they have been faced with at a very young age is something that some children never experience in a lifetime. When I became sick and lost all four of my limbs, their lives were forever changed instantly. However, they have faced this adversity head-on just like I have. I am beyond proud of the young children they have continued to be throughout all of this and how well they respect others who have different abilities.

Who is your role model and Why?
my role model is my mom Nancy Birch. She is my role model because not only was she one of the most dedicated and fabulous educators I’ve ever met for 38 years of her career she’s an even better mother and grandmother. My mother has had multiple sclerosis for 29 years but has never once left to stop her from being there for everyone no matter what they need anytime day or night. My mom would give me the shirt off her back and has offered to give me her arms and hands if it were possible to do that easily. My mom exemplifies my unconditional love and support continue to look like with your children even as they become adults. I am beyond blessed that my own children have a nana that does absolutely anything in the world to keep their life as normal as possible.

If there was one person that you would like to meet, past or present, who would it be and why?
One person I would like to meet is Michelle Obama. I would like to meet her because I absolutely love her story of how hard work and perseverance at a young age pay off. She took what was a hard situation growing up and made it into a A positive experience that would forever change her life and destiny to make an impact across the world. Her time and dedication to children of this country and beyond is absolutely amazing. She took her role as first lady to the next level when she worked so hard to bring health and nutrition to the forefront of our educational system. I am truly inspired by her and love what a strong independent woman she represents

A favorite quote that you live by?
Let things be a moment. Don’t let it be a bad day, let it be a bad moment. – Kristin Fox

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