Athletic Director Cara Kimberlin was recognized with an award for her support of music programs across the district.

The Kansas Music Educators Association northeast district selects an honor administrator every year during a meeting of area teachers. Band teacher Damian Johnson and choir teacher Allison Enneking nominated Kimberlin, who was selected by music teachers across the northeast district.

“I was 100% surprised,” Kimberlin said. “I was shocked. I had no idea I was even nominated.”

Kimberlin said she sees her role as bigger than athletics or activities, saying her primary job is to work for students.

“All of those programs are designed to help kids excel, and in some cases, discover new things,” she said. “‘There’s nothing that’s more important than another’ is kind of the way that I approach my job.”

Kimberlin is one of seven district winners across the state. Enneking and Johnson are working to collect letters of support from colleagues, former students and more to submit to the state association as part of the statewide contest. The winner will be announced in February.

Enneking said the nomination process can be interesting because many teachers aren’t familiar with administrators at other schools. But she and Johnson came to the meeting with a specific pitch to support Kimberlin.

“If you’ve ever wanted an administrator to go to bat for your program and to know that you’re going to have an administrator to back you up, she is that,” Enneking said.

Enneking said it can be easy for music programs to lack support compared to athletics. But Kimberlin ensures every student and teacher feels supported, she said.

“She is just someone who is always willing to help … if she can’t find somebody, she’s the one to do it,” Enneking said. “She is not the norm at a lot of school districts.”

Kimberlin praised Johnson and Enneking for how they have grown and supported the music programs in Eudora.

“No matter what performance they’re putting on — whether it’s Allison working with the musical or Damian with us hosting our first-ever marching festival — those two sponsors just do a great job of making sure that everything’s going to run smoothly,” she said.

Superintendent Stu Moeckel said Kimberlin advocates for all students and activities across the school. He said her support and leadership elevate athletics and activities across the district.

“Eudora schools, and Eudora High School in particular, is so lucky to have Cara Kimberlin,” he said. “She is so well organized and thoughtful. She’s always going above and beyond to meet the needs of our coaching staff, students and community.”

She said she was honored by the recognition, but it isn’t changing her philosophy of supporting students and letting teachers continue to develop programs across the district.

“I just get to sit back and listen and reap the benefits of how great our sponsors are and our kids are,” she said.