Biography

Kim Goates is originally from Brisbane, Australia, though she has now spent more than half her life in the US. Kim started educating her own children at home more than 30 years ago and has owned and run several businesses during that time. She has a tremendous love of and passion for learning and teaching. This love and passion, joined with her entrepreneurial spirit, led her to take the reins in February 2016 of Canyon Grove Academy, and create one of the most unique schools in the state.

Immersed is the best way to describe Kim’s search for a better education model for student, parents, and, ultimately, schools. With her experience as a homeschool mom, she took the deep dive into creating, designing, implementing, and now maintaining systems that bridge the gap between homeschooling families and charter schools through a hybrid distance effort. Students thrive and parents love that their voices are heard at Canyon Grove due in large part to Kim’s efforts.

Mrs. Goates has a contagious passion, love, and enthusiasm for life, her family, and learning. She embodies Mark Twain’s famous quip about not letting school get in the way of him learning. While Kim appreciates there are laws and rules governing education, her efforts clearly point to a focus on individualizing learning for each student. When she is not at work refining Canyon Grove’s efforts with her team, she can be found working on the farm at the school, tending to the animals and plants. When the rare moment finds her not at the school, she can be found enjoying her great family, playing the piano, and looking for ways to do more to get access to learning opportunities for kids and their families.

Why do you want to serve on the UAPCS Board?

I want to serve because I am very passionate about supporting families by providing more educational options. Throughout my years of working in the educational field, I have found that we truly are a community that desires to serve others and work together for educational policies, change, adherence and support.  I have found that both the similarities as well as the unique characteristics each charter school brings to the table are the exact qualities that bolster the educational community.  Together we grow and learn from one another while  refining our own leadership, skills, and expertise.  I would love to be a part of the board that I have watched first hand advocate at the state level to ensure that charter schools have a voice. 

What specific skills and knowledge can you bring to the board?

One of the strengths I bring to the table is an entrepreneurial spirit that strives to positively look forward at what is to come next!  

Education is an ever changing environment and charter school in particular offer much to parents when they are trying to find the best environment and learning style for their child.  I am willing to take a risk if I feel it will benefit education and our students, and that can often feel very outside of the box.  I love people and hearing their stories and providing any support I can to them in any way I'm able.

Please share your prior governing board experience.

While I haven't had the opportunity to serve as part of a governing board I have been a school Director and attended board meetings monthly for the past 11 years.

Where do you hope to see the Charter School movement in the next five years?

I want the Charter School movement to continue growing while providing solid academic foundations for our future leaders of America. The world itself is changing at light speed, and education must provide opportunities for families that can move along at that same rate without sacrificing quality of education, safety of students, and a love of learning. I hope to see more parents choosing charter schools for their child and for our schools to be an integral and revered part of our community