Testimonials
“(Kim) was a creative and compassionate leader. Kim’s primary focus was always on the well-being of students. Her ability to establish strong relationships with them was one of the many qualities that made her an effective principal.
"She also valued and supported the staff who were part of the school’s education team and considered parents as partners on our educational journey.
"Among Kim’s skills as a leader are effective communications, team building, problem solving, and data-decision making, all based on a commitment to improve outcomes. These are skills that can be useful in a myriad of leadership roles.”
Mary Kamerzell, Superintendent, Retired
Denise Bartlett, Superintendent
"Kim's ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the school community is truly remarkable. She has a natural talent for building strong, lasting relationships with students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike. This skill has been instrumental in fostering a positive and collaborative school culture.
"One of Kim's greatest strengths lies in her analytical approach to complex problems. She consistently demonstrates the ability to break down intricate issues, identify key factors, and develop innovative solutions.
"As a leader, Kim excels in coaching and supporting her team. She has an eye for recognizing individual strengths and areas for growth, allowing her to provide targeted guidance and mentorship. Her approach enhances the professional development of staff members as well as contributes to a more effective and motivated team overall.
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"Kim's capacity to motivate others is truly inspiring. She has a unique ability to rally her team around shared goals and vision, creating a sense of purpose and unity within the school community. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and she consistently brings out the best in those around her.
"Additionally, Kim is an exceptional presenter. Whether addressing a small group of educators or a large audience of stakeholders, she communicates with clarity and conviction. Her presentations are always well-prepared, engaging, and impactful.
"Kim's eagerness to take on new challenges and bring her wealth of experience to a different setting speaks volumes about her growth mindset and adaptability. She will excel in any professional capacity due to her strong moral compass and work ethic."
"As a teacher at Manzanita, Kim was not only my Principal, she was an exceptional mentor and instructional coach. She inspired me to continue learning and to continue refining my instructional methods. Her constructive and positive feedback motivated me to share my expertise with others. Her commitment to a caring and collaborative learning environment for both teachers and students has been a source of inspiration throughout the 10 years that I have known her.
"Kim’s mentorship and coaching has been instrumental in shaping my approach to leadership. She encouraged me to grow my leadership skills, and gave me the confidence to pursue a path toward becoming an Administrator. Through our collaborative discussions, she strengthened my understanding of how to effectively guide teachers to nurture student learning. She modeled the characteristics that she expected of others which fostered a community of educators that were genuinely invested in supporting each other and helping students grow. She taught me to listen with empathy in order to foster trusting and positive relationships among community members.
"I am forever grateful for the coaching, mentorship, and friendship that I have received from Kim. Any educator that crosses her path will benefit from knowing Kim Boling!"
Kara Rawson,
Assistant Principal
Tiffany Wiley, Teacher
“When I think of Kim, three words come to mind: …
"Problem-solver: … Kim always looked at the problem from every angle. She would analyze all sides of that problem, discuss the problem with important players, and then develop a thoughtful and well-articulated solution. Any decision that was made at Manzanita during Kim’s tenure came with the best intentions and from a place of deep consideration and reflection. …
"Forward-thinking: … Kim was never a “look back” and do “what we’ve always done” kind of principal. She challenged her staff and students to experiment, explore and try new things. She allowed the staff to question long-standing practices and encouraged learning new strategies, methods or approaches to teaching and learning. She was not threatened by this, but rather energized by it. And, she always remembered to ask about the outcome. …
"Leader: … It’s not just because Kim was the principal that I consider her a leader. Kim is just one of those people whom others want to follow. She has the charisma and energy to get others excited to learn and take risks. She has the drive and passion to accomplish tasks, while remembering to keep what’s important at the center. She has the creativity and spark to inspire others. She also has the patience and compassion to listen and remember the human side of being a leader. …”
"Kim Boling's ongoing guidance has been transformative in my 14 year leadership journey as principal of Esperero Canyon Middle School. Kim brings institutional knowledge, proven strategies, and a wealth of experience that strengthens collective leadership capacity. Her presence elevates our collaborative work and ensures alignment across schools.
"Kim's wisdom regarding parent communication has been invaluable. She helped me navigate difficult conversations with empathy and clarity and build strong parent partnerships during challenging situations. Her practical strategies for transparent, timely communication dramatically improved our school-home relationships.
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"One of Kim's greatest gifts to me has been her guidance on faculty professional learning. She believes that retreat experiences should be both rejuvenating and intellectually stimulating for staff. She balances meaningful learning with team building, resulting in professional development that teachers actually look forward to attending.
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"What sets Kim apart is her extraordinary ability to provide feedback. She has a rare talent for offering guidance in a way that inspires hope rather than defensiveness. When facing the countless daily challenges of principalship, her counsel helped me see pathways forward rather than obstacles. Her approach is never judgmental—instead, she maintains an unwavering focus on positive, proactive solutions.
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"I am profoundly grateful for Kim Boling's influence on my professional growth. Her mentorship has not only helped me become a more effective leader but also reminded me of the joy in this challenging work. Kim truly is a treasure to our educational community, and her impact continues to ripple through the lives of students, teachers, and fellow administrators."
Mary Setliff, Principal
Tina Moricz, Teacher
“In addition to her outstanding leadership qualities, Kim possesses strong communication skills, a genuine concern for the individual needs of our students and staff, and a clear vision for the future of our school.
"Kim has proven to be a strong advocate for educational excellence and has worked tirelessly to promote a safe, nurturing, and academically rigorous environment. She is a supportive partner in advocating for students and helping teachers connect with families to create positive school experiences. …”
“I have had the privilege of working with Kim over the past 20 years … I consistently felt supported and valued by Kim …
"In difficult circumstances, Kim remained calm and leveraged her exceptional mediation skills, expertise, and wisdom … she demonstrated a perfect balance of professionalism and empathy, fostering a caring and supportive environment for staff, students, and families …
"I was consistently impressed by her charisma, energetic demeanor, and dedication to her work. She is an incredibly hard worker and has a unique ability to connect with families from diverse backgrounds ...
"Kim is truly an extraordinary principal, and her impact on the school community has been profound."
Lourdes Vergil, School Psychologist
Amber Grilli, Teacher
"Kim was an extraordinary leader who fostered a compassionate school community and helped students and staff reach their full potential.
"As a school leader, Kim modeled true professionalism and dedication for everyone at Manzanita. She showed support for all of the students and staff at our school. She was empathic and caring for staff and built strong relationships with the students, parents, and teachers. She took the time to get to know everyone, staff and students alike, and created a school community where everyone felt welcome, challenged, and excited to come to each day.
"As a coach and mentor for the staff, Kim excelled at finding staff members’ strengths and helping support them in areas of growth. She took the time to check in with everyone and give them valuable feedback on their strengths and support for their growth. Through her mentorship, teachers felt comfortable coming to her for advice knowing she would help find thoughtful suggestions."
“... As an administrative partner, Kim is a true collaborator and an active listener. She was always willing to listen to my ideas for the school, encourage me to implement them, or we would come to a compromise on what would work best for our staff, students, and parents...
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"She is extremely organized. She meets her deadlines and communicates regularly with her staff. Her weekly bulletins were a joy to read, with staff highlights, a calendar and amusing anecdotes. … Her leadership amongst the staff was apparent in staff meetings and in one-on-one meetings. In meetings, the staff was engaged in her presentations and in individual conversations, staff members, including myself, were truly interested in her thoughts and observational feedback...
"She easily draws upon her wealth of experience to help others improve their skills. …. I always left meetings with Kim feeling positive about myself and knew we had a successful path to start a new initiative, correct a problem or situation, or plan a positive culture school event."