For Isaac Kim, teaching wasn’t part of his original plan. With a degree in philosophy, he didn’t set off seeking a career in education, but his experience with kids at his church’s vacation bible school and camps since age 13 made stepping into the classroom feel natural.
“I was used to working with young people,” he said. “The population was different, but the principles were the same – building relationships, earning trust, and making sure they feel safe.”
Now, five years after being hired at the High Road School of Hartford, Kim has found deep purpose in his work. Starting as a teaching assistant and with the goal of growing into a certified special education teacher role, he’s seen students arrive at High Road struggling with academic and personal challenges and leave transformed.
“Seeing their growth is amazing,” he said. “It’s night and day from when they started.”
Building Trust and Creating Belonging
The foundation of Kim’s teaching philosophy is consistency. Many of his students have experienced instability, with people coming in and out of their lives. That’s why he believes that just showing up, day after day, makes a difference. “Even if they have a bad day, even if they’re in crisis, they know I’ll be here the next day,” he explained. “We all mess up, but that doesn’t impact our relationship.”
That trust is what allows students to engage, both socially and academically. “If they know you have their best interests at heart, they’re willing to try,” he said. Whether it’s making lessons fun, using multisensory learning strategies, or simply meeting students where they are, Kim’s approach is about patience, humor, and understanding. “Half the battle is getting them to trust you, then they want to learn,” he said.
The Reward of Seeing Students Thrive
For Kim, the most fulfilling part of the job is seeing students open up. “When you’re new, it’s tough,” he admitted. “But after a while, they share their personalities, their interests, their joy.” He said there’s nothing better than walking into the classroom and seeing students happy to be there.
“I know they’re not just learning – they’re enjoying themselves and making progress on their individual goals,” he said. “Every student grows at their own pace and here the goal isn’t just catching up, it’s helping students believe in themselves.”
And that, more than anything, is why he continues to show up each day, ready to teach and support his students.
