Massaro: Natural-born teacher gets the Point

By Gary Massaro, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Friday, June 22, 2007

Kim Hackford-Peer was born to be a teacher.

She said she can't remember when she really decided that teaching would become her profession, but it was early on.

"I've always loved school. I've always looked up to my teachers," she said. "You want to be like the people you looked up to when you were little. I'd help friends and classmates, and I received a lot of positive reinforcement."

She recalled an incident in first grade that, in retrospect, was probably the defining moment.

She and a classmate were fearful of getting on teeter-totters. If the person on the low end got off suddenly, the higher-up person would plummet.

"We spent a week outside, practicing teeter-totter safety," she said. "Then we told the teacher we needed an extra recess so we could teach our classmates."

The teacher agreed. Classmates enjoyed it.

"Everyone was happy," she said.

The natural- born teacher was also born smart. And she was born a lesbian as well.

She's one of 38 students nationwide to receive a Point Scholarship, which average $13,600 and are renewable. The Point Foundation gives the scholarships to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

Kim is studying for her doctorate in education, culture and society. She hopes to teach multicultural education courses to undergrads - something she's doing now while studying at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

"That's the focus in my class - getting students to realize how the educational system isn't fair for everyone, that only a limited number of perspectives are taught or validated," she said.

So she teaches alternative perspectives.

She's a Brighton native. She graduated with a math education degree from Colorado State University-Fort Collins, where she met her partner, Ruth. They studied for their master's degrees at University of Massachusetts-Amherst before settling in Salt Lake City.

They have two sons, Riley, 5, and Casey, 14 months.

"My partner carried both of them," Kim said.

She has co-parenting rights for Riley, who was born in Massachusetts, but not for Casey, who was born in Utah.

She said she and Ruth will observe the 10th anniversary of their commitment ceremony later this year.

"Ruth's grandma said she wanted us to do something public to hold friends and family accountable for supporting our relationship," Kim said. "Things in Utah are good. My partner is from here. We have a good, supportive network and a lot of good friends."

When she leaves the classroom, her family is her total focus.

"I have learned that when I'm not in school, my time with my family is my most valuable thing. Little ones grow up so darn fast," she said. "Anything we do has got to be family friendly - stuff we can take the boys to."

massarog@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5271.