Teacher to Know: Kimmy Sanford, History and Social Sciences at Tampa Prep
Meet Kimmy Sanford, a passionate and dedicated middle school teacher of history and the social sciences at Tampa Preparatory School, where she has brought the past to life with energy, creativity and heart for the past 17 years (18 years total as a teacher). Known for her engaging lessons and commitment to student growth, Sanford goes beyond the textbook to connect historical events to the real world, helping young minds understand not just what happened, but why it matters. As both an educator and mentor, she fosters a classroom environment that encourages curiosity, critical thinking and empathy — values that resonate just as strongly at home as they do in school.
Tampa Prep is Tampa’s only private, independent 6-12 school, located on the thriving Riverwalk in downtown Tampa. At Tampa Prep, students are encouraged to think, create, be themselves, aspire to excellence and go beyond. Tampa Prep is more than a college preparatory school; it is a preparation for life with a higher purpose than self.
TBPM: What made you decide that you wanted to be a teacher?
KS: I always loved school and learning. In middle school, I had an American History teacher, Mrs. Strobeck, who took a vested interest in me. She encouraged me to try a new elective, a leadership course, and found subtle ways to push me out of my shell. Her method of teaching was more creative and interactive than I had experienced at the time and there were more opportunities for me to foster relationships within her class. While I already had a feeling I’d want to be a teacher, she sold me on it.
TBPM: What is one of the favorite lessons that you get to teach to your students and why?
KS: The one that most often comes up when past students come to visit is the lesson about The Nacirema. When starting off our unit on culture, I use an adapted article from the anthropologist Horace Miner on “The Body Rituals of the Nacirema.” The students gasp and squeal as they read about people who do all sorts of interesting things (no spoilers here). Then I ask them to spell Nacirema backwards, along with Nacirema's favorite restaurant Sdlanodcm, and the look of shock on their faces is always entertaining. It’s a great springboard for talking about being accepting of other cultures, cultural perspective and relativism.
TBPM: Why did you choose to teach at Tampa Prep?
KS: Tampa Prep’s mission statement felt like a natural fit: “A place to think, create, be yourself, aspire to excellence and go beyond.” It spoke to the kind of teacher I wanted to be and the kind of community I want to belong to. Seeing my students unabashedly get to be their true selves brings me joy. I wish that Middle School experience for everyone.
TBPM: What is a favorite thing that you have done at Tampa Prep and why?
KS: My favorite thing is the relationships and connections I’ve made over the years with students.
As far as a specific event that I helped to create at Tampa Prep, it would be the Middle School Games. Every year, the middle school competes in these cross curricular games that promote real world skills such as leadership, collaboration, communication and problem solving, while also including art challenges, academic features, STEM and of course, FUN!
I also love having the opportunity to chaperone our 6th graders on their annual Florida Adventures class trip. They get to experience Mars Base 1 at Kennedy Space Center and the Imagination Campus at Disney World.
TBPM: What is special about Tampa Prep?
KS: My colleagues are fantastic. They believe teaching is an “art” and not just a “job” and that feeling drives the culture of Tampa Prep. Being around them has helped me refine my practices and home in my craft. Collaborating with them fuels me.
The teachers care deeply about the whole child – not just academics. Those conversations have had to change over the years in this screen era. A couple years ago we recognized a cell phone policy of “away for the day” would benefit our Middle School students well-being. We tried to implement more play, and although Middle School students would never call it “recess,” we now have field time during lunch. The students can run around and be kids as these middle grade kids still very much need!
TBPM: What does being a teacher mean to you?
KS: Being a teacher means being a lifelong learner and hoping to instill that in my students. It means modeling for my students what positive relationships look like. It’s being another trusted adult they hopefully can turn to in the awkward middle school years. It means being kind, empathic and patient while also holding high expectations.
I’ve been teaching long enough to see lots of educational buzz words come and go but the one thing that remains constant is relationship building. To quote my boss, Joe Fenlon, “students won’t always remember what you teach them, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”
Visit tampaprep.org to learn more about Florida’s Most Innovative School. Our application window for the 2026-27 school year is open now (deadline to apply is Feb. 1).
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