Laura Kimm-POL's introduction to Damascus College began during her final placement as a Health and Physical Education teacher in 2012. Since then, she has remained with Damascus, transitioning from Casual Relief Teaching in 2013 to her current position. She is excited to be entering her 11th year at the College. Over the years, she has fulfilled various roles including a teacher of HPE as well as junior Mathematics, in addition to Assistant House Leader of McAuley House.

In 2024, Laura enters her second year in her new position as Student Growth and Engagement Coordinator-Year 7 and Transition. Her role is rewarding and commences from the moment students enroll into Damascus College, extending into their entire first year of high school. Central to her responsibilities is fostering seamless transitions for students, working closely with them, their families, and Primary schools. This involves organizing visits to primary schools, coordinating extra transition days, Orientation Day activities, and facilitating workshops on the first day of school to ensure that all students embark on their educational journey feeling welcomed and supported in every facet of their college experience. Laura is passionate about the well-being of the students and believes that their first year of high school can shape them into being the best versions of themselves.

A significant aspect of Laura's role involves collaborating with families and students diagnosed or seeking a diagnosis of various Social, Emotional, Cognitive, Physical, and Sensory disabilities to ensure equitable access to the curriculum. Through the creation of Personalized Learning Plans in collaboration with students and their families, she highlights individual strengths, addresses challenges, and outlines reasonable adjustments necessary to accommodate diverse learning needs within the classroom setting.

As Laura settles more into the role, she is committed to reviewing and refining existing processes to ensure students and families feel valued, supported, and welcomed in the College. She believes there is a place for everyone at Damascus and is excited to challenge students to continue to grow and become expert learners. She considers herself privileged to be part of a remarkable team of staff members whose collective expertise and unwavering dedication empower students and families to navigate the challenges of high school successfully, starting at Year 7. Looking ahead, she eagerly anticipates the continuation of her work with current 2024 families while also initiating the transition process for incoming 2025 students.