The active and involved lifestyle of TJ’s Kimberly Holtmann.
Photo by Mia Nogueira
As an involved individual at Thomas Jefferson, Kimberly Holtmann focuses on the success of her students by providing a stress-free, open-minded learning environment, as well as incorporating her own mix of flavors into her everyday life.
As an enthusiastic individual, Holtmann brings her passion for education and applies it to her classes. “I absolutely love my job. It’s cool to know that I’ve made and impact on my students and that I’m able to help people accomplish their goals,” she said. Her courses consist of the Ancient/Medieval History X class, the US History class, and the 12th grade AVID class, in which she is also the coordinator for. AVID is a program that guides students to achieve academic success, either in high school, in their future studies, or career choices.
In all the classes that she teaches, Holtmann is known for bringing a relaxing, imperturbable environment that has helped students feel at home and concentrate better. “It really helps me learn better; I don’t have to worry about not understanding anything that Mrs. Holtmann is teaching. The atmosphere helps a lot in the class,” said Junior Justin Cox.
TJ has always been held in high esteem by the faculty, and in Holtmann’s case it is no different; “I truly believe that this is the best school in all of Denver. All of the faculty and population at TJ have helped me develop my persona in one-way or another. I have learned so much that I wouldn’t have otherwise. The students and teachers have had a great affect on me,” said Holtmann.
As the years go by Holtmann plans on staying at TJ with her teaching career. She says she feels at home with the students and environment and wants her roots to grow deeper with the school. “It seems like every time I become accustomed to the way things go and things are becoming bland, I start something new. For example, this year I started teaching U.S. History and so far it’s been great. There are so many opportunities for me here at TJ.”
Although she has been teaching at TJ since 2006, Holtmann has been the TJ girls’ tennis head coach since the spring of 2009. “I initially had never ever played tennis, but my mom plays tennis, and since the opportunity came up for me to be head coach, I made the decision to try it out,” said Holtmann who, as a dedicated athlete, was able to fulfill the position as head coach. “I enjoyed playing tennis so much and I pursued the coaching at TJ. I even got my husband and my friends start playing tennis!”
“She has done a really great job of working hard and always being there when you need her for support. She has always been there for us as a team and she’s put a lot of effort and hard work in, which has paid off a lot,” said Junior Rebecca Hansen, who has been on the girls’ varsity tennis team for the past two years.
Outside of school Holtmann is engaged in several activities that make up a side of her not very well known to the TJ community. For the past four years she has played in an adults’ volleyball league at Washington Park and is a very committed team player. “Next to the volleyball league, I love anything outdoors and on a boat,” says Holtmann. Snowboarding, hiking, water skiing and wakeboarding are some of the outdoor activities in which Holtmann is engaged.
Holtmann’s hobbies are composed of activities in which not many people are accustomed to, such as her love for snowboarding. “Snowboarding is something I really have a passion for and I would love it for people to try this amazing experience,” said Holtmann, who plans on assembling a group of students this year to take a ski trip up to Breckenridge so that she can share this activity with her students. “I want to connect [the students] to these kinds of activities. Last year we were not able to make the trip possible, but things are looking up for this year. If we get the proper funds and the group together, this experience will be very possible and amazing,” said Holtmann.
Along with all the physical activities with which she is involved, Holtmann is a gardener and an excellent baker. “I like to mix my gardening and baking when I go about doing these activities. I used to hate eating vegetables, but once I started growing my own, I love them,” said Holtmann.
“One thing that I found out is that you can mix vegetables into breads and other baked goods. In regard to my baking, I like to bake things to match people’s personalities. For my friends’ birthdays, depending on what kind of treats and sweets they like, I design cakes to fit them,” said Holtmann. In the past she has baked brownies and other baked goods to raise money for clubs and committees at TJ.
Holtmann is one of the individuals envisioning the bright road ahead for TJ’s 2010-2011 school year. “One of my goals for this year is to focus in a lot more on the girls’ tennis team. I’m already planning schedules and practice strategies because I want to build a strong, competitive team, along with it being a fun experience,” says Holtmann.
As a determined individual, Holtmann finds a way to carry out her extreme, activity-filled life while still teaching social studies to her classes at TJ. “I think that you should keep work fun and interactive. I try to incorporate my hobbies into my work whenever possible; like tennis, snowboarding, and occasionally bringing in baked goods.”
