Teacher Feature October 2024: Krista McKim

Each month, we spotlight and celebrate a teacher in our community.

Krista McKim is the yearbook and broadcast journalism adviser at Rockville High School in Rockville, Maryland. She also teaches AP Language and Composition. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and was voted most likely to survive the apocalypse by her students.

Learn about Krista McKim’s favorite StoryMaker lessons, pro tips, and where to get the best lobster roll in our Q&A below. 

How long have you been using StoryMaker or SRL resources in your classroom?

Four years!

What’s your favorite StoryMaker lesson?  

The Food and Culture prompt is my favorite. It allows students to explore food and tell a story. Every time I use the prompt, I am blown away by the stories that students produce. 

What’s a media-making tool or resource you can’t live without? 

The text-based editing in Adobe Premiere. I love it; it makes editing so much faster! 

Links to your students’ work: 

Find our daily announcements show here and our YouTube channel here. 

What’s a dream story you’d like to report on or a person you’d like to interview?

I would love to report on teacher preparation programs — what works, what doesn’t, and how we can better prepare teachers for the amazing journey of being a teacher. 

What’s your advice for teachers and educators just getting started on StoryMaker? 

Pick one prompt or lesson to explore. There is so much on StoryMaker; don’t try and do everything at once. You’ll get overwhelmed!  Pick one and get comfortable with it before exploring more resources. 

What are you currently listening to? 

Taylor Swift – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Fun facts about you?

I’ve lived on three different continents. I’m a career changer – I worked in victim advocacy before becoming a teacher. 

Anything else we should know?

You can reach out to Krista McKim directly to learn more about how she’s adapted StoryMaker into her classroom. Email her at: Krista_L_McKim@mcpsmd.org