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For the Zimmerman family, working for the Colonial School District is a family affair and a love story all in one. It started when Jim, now the Deputy Principal at William Penn High School (WPHS), and Katie, now a 2nd-grade teacher at Wilmington Manor, started dating as high school sweethearts. Even though the couple met as students at George Read Middle School, they didn’t begin dating until their senior year at William Penn, with both graduating in 1989. The couple married in 1994 after graduating from separate colleges. Jim’s fondest memories at WPHS include the days when he was a stand-out wrestler, while Katie loved singing in the choir. 

All three of their children are Colonials, with Emily (going from grades first through eighth), Jimmy graduating from WPHS in 2019, and Anna, age 15, attending now.  While in college Emily would return to the district as an intern at Colonial’s Early Education Program (CEEP), and now teaches at Southern.  Yes, this family truly bleeds cherry red and black as lifetime Colonials with Jim saying, “It means that you have a commitment to always have pride in your roots as a Colonial and support Colonial Nation.”

 Emily has fond childhood memories of being at WPHS with her father. “I loved hanging out with the wrestlers when my dad was the wrestling coach and they, the wrestlers,  treated me like a little sister.  Meeting many different staff members who have basically become like family is also very special to me,” she says.

 Jim and Katie Zimmerman have 27-year careers in Colonial.  Jim cherishes the success stories he has had with countless students, while Katie enjoys doing different projects with her students like the chicken and duck coop that WPHS students built for her so her students could have first-time hands-on experience working with animals, along with a butterfly garden she and the kids hope to enhance this spring.  Emily says she knew teaching was in her blood while interning at CEEP thanks to the support she’s received from fellow teachers and administrators. “Since working at the preschool, I feel I have grown so much when it comes to finding my assertive voice and have deepened my love of teaching students,” she says.

Jim, Katie, and Emily Zimmerman each are making a difference in the lives of students and collectively agree on one thing, “As a family, I think we would like to be remembered as True Colonials who worked to make our schools and community a better place!”

The Zimmermans are #whowearecsd