Paulo Coelho once said, “Be Brave. Take Risks. Nothing can substitute experience.” For the last 18 years, students have learned the value of this statement as they leave room 141 at Lakeshore High School. One word describes Alaina Kinney, the teacher in this classroom: Brave.
Alaina Kinney’s goal is to start each day by making sure everyone is thriving, invested, and truly experiencing the world around them. Kinney not only does this for the hundreds of students she comes into contact with, but she also does this for all the animals she is responsible for on her farm. Originally studying to become a veterinarian, this is Kinney’s 18th year at Lakeshore High School, where she has taught regular, Honors, and Advanced Placement English classes, but more importantly, she teaches through her various experiences.
“I originally wanted to be a vet, but quickly realized the math and science were going to be too much for me in college and had to change my career path. I loved English in high school and loved my English teacher. I have always enjoyed reading and writing so it was a natural fit. I love when we get to discuss whatever text we are reading and see what the kids bring to the discussion,” Kinney states.
Her brave decision to switch majors turned out to be a great decision for both Kinney and for Lakeshore. An R. James Johnson Award recipient, member of the School Improvement Team, an AR (Association Representative) for the Lakeshore Education Association, and the National Honor Society (NHS) Advisor, Kinney also coached volleyball for eleven years and was a three-time class advisor.
A lover of traveling the world and learning about cultures, one of Kinney’s favorite teaching experiences was winning the 2013-2014 Fulbright Teacher Exchange Grant. She left Stevensville and taught English to 6th-12th graders in Békés, Hungary. Her counterpart, Hungarian educator Gyuri Liptak, came to Lakeshore and taught Kinney’s classes while she taught his classes half a world away. Kinney states, “That year was one of the best years of my life. Learning the education system in a different country was really interesting and watching the kids’ growth in speaking English was incredibly rewarding. I loved learning all about a new culture and experiencing so many amazing opportunities.” Again, another display of Kinney’s bravery: this time moving to a country, not knowing a person or the language for the duration of a year and being a vegetarian in a country that prides itself on its meat products.
Back at home with experiences to share, Kinney continues to love her job. “Every hour is something new. Even if the class is the same, the kids change so there can be a completely different experience. Lakeshore is a wonderful place to work because of the support we offer all students. It is so important to provide various pathways for kids to feel accepted, valued, and successful in high school, whether that is through sports, CTE and the arts, or different clubs.”
When she is not at school or grading papers, she is usually doing something on her small farm in Coloma, MI. Kinney said, “I have two horses (Murray and Stella), two goats (Ben and Jerry), three dogs (Finn, Truman, and Quincy), one barn cat (Miller) and twelve chickens (all with old lady names). Most of the animals are rescue animals as that is a cause near and dear to my heart. Growing up I lived in the country and people would always drop dogs off at the end of our street and we would take them in and find homes for them (or keep them as we did twice!). That probably started my love for rescuing animals.”
“Kinney took a huge risk in trying to manage her 12-acre farm and her successful full-time job. She thrives at both,” says Suze Miller, a fellow English teacher at Lakeshore.
“As a teacher, it is so important to recognize and celebrate the diversity of all of my students. They all bring a unique set of experiences, skills, and dreams to my classroom and my job is to honor those and help foster success for them in whatever form that takes. I got into teaching because I really enjoy watching kids learn and be successful. The ‘lightbulb’ moment when something clicks for a kid or they feel successful is the best part of my day,” Kinney states.
One of Kinney’s greatest contributions to Lakeshore might be her new role: advisor of Prism. “Several years ago a student approached me and wanted to start a Gender and Sexuality Alliance club; I was immediately on board because Prism is another way to support a group of students. Usually, we have about 10-15 students at the meetings and discuss a wide variety of topics from current events, to LGBTQ rights around the world, to ways to make all students feel included at Lakeshore.”
Former student Lauren Dalrymple said, “Ms. Kinney is one of those teachers who truly embodies why it’s important to have educators with a passion for what they do. In my time at Lakeshore, I was fortunate enough to witness her positive impact on so many students, myself included. She offers guidance, support, and kindness to all students while making her classroom a safe space. Her joy for educating is truly part of what makes Lakeshore a special place. Teachers like Alaina are the kind of people who make me proud to call myself a Lancer.”
INTERACT Club -Dominican Republic Trip