Class Act

As a student at Simpson, King made her mark on the opera stage while also enjoying incredible career-shaping internships with Des Moines Performing Arts and the Des Moines Symphony. Her education studies also featured plenty of hands-on experience, including an eye-opening opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica.

“That’s where I found my love for seeing the world and the impact it can have on a person’s perspective. It impacted me so much that I now take my own students on study abroad trips to London to experience professional theatre.”

King’s rich set of experiences at Simpson opened the door for her appointment as drama director and English teacher at Hoover High School in her home community of Des Moines, where she’s already making a big impact.

In 2022, she was honored with the Iowa Council of Teachers of English Award, which recognizes those who “demonstrate exceptional teaching skills as a beginning teacher.” And she’s taken her drama students to All-State in IHSSA Speech three times in her four years at Hoover. Along the way, she’s inspired tremendous growth in the drama program.

“In my first year, I started out with only 30 students signing up for my drama classes. But this year, I had over 120 students — maxing out each of my sections. I’ve had to double cast shows because I’ve had so many students excited about getting involved in theater.”

King is grateful to Simpson for thoroughly preparing her to thrive as an educator with a strong foundation. She says teaching is tough, but persistence pays off.

“Education is an area where success is found by one’s willingness to lean into learning through trial and error. There is no right way to be an educator; it takes being willing to fail and try again.”