HUMBOLDT — Kim Isbell thought she was helping a colleague solve a computer glitch Wednesday.
But when she arrived into the darkened classroom, Isbell was instead greeted with a throng of well-wishers with news of a different sort — she has been announced as a Kansas Scholastic Press Association Hall of Fame Inductee.
Fellow teachers, her family members and former students gathered at the high school Wednesday for the surprise announcement.
“This was a shock,” she laughed. “Totally.”
Isbell is finishing her 21st year as an instructor at Humboldt, 18 of which she served as the school’s yearbook and newspaper adviser.
Isbell, who succeeded the legendary Allen Wilhite — a 2005 KSPA Hall of Fame inductee — helped keep the lofty journalism program humming along without missing a beat.
In her 18 years at the helm, the Humboldt students won 14 state championships for their writing, editing, photography and design skills.
And with that success, a handful of students embarked on journalism careers near and far, others have jobs in marketing or public relations, “and we had quite a few who were able to pay their way through college with their photography,” Isbell said. “They’re kind of scattered everywhere.”
And many pursued teaching careers, including several who have returned to Humboldt High.
Isbell recalled a recent exercise in which she helped sort through Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees.
“It was kind of nice going through the list saying, ‘I taught this person,’ or ‘I taught her,’” Isbell laughed. “That was kind of cool to see.”
Isbell handed the reins to the newspaper and yearbook programs to former student Taylor Zartman this school year, in order for Isbell to shift into her new position as CTE coordinator.
“It was time,” she said. “I miss working with the kids, but I really like my new position.”
