For the first time ever, Good News takes us beyond the walls of a school or district worksite to the vibrant shoreline of Nathan Benderson Park (NBP) in North Sarasota County. There, amid the rhythmic beat of drums and the roar of cheering crowds, hundreds of paddlers from across the country raced across the water in a breathtaking display of teamwork and tenacity. Among them: Kim Sheffield, a dedicated member of our school district's Federal Programs and Grants department for the last three years—and now, a nationally recognized dragon boat competitor.
Kim’s journey to the water is nothing short of inspiring. By day, she helps ensure our schools receive and properly implement essential federal funding, working closely with the Title I team at the Professional Support Center. Her work behind the scenes supports some of the most critical programs in our schools. But outside of work hours? She’s on the water, practicing six days a week at Nathan Benderson Park or City Island (Sarasota), driven by the same passion and discipline that define her professional life.
A former teacher of history, mathematics, and special education, and a Colchester, Connecticut native, Kim joined NBP’s Paddling Program last December. What started as a new hobby quickly transformed into something much greater. Just seven months later, she was among those representing Team USA at the 17th International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.
Her teammates at the district celebrated her return by decorating her workspace in red, white, and blue, a testament to the pride and admiration she inspires.
“Kim is awesome. She’s a hard worker, eager to learn, positive, and sets high goals,” said Jason Geiger, an outrigging coach at NBP. “She’s achieved a lot in a very short time because of her eagerness and work ethic.”
Angela Long, one of Kim’s dragon boat coaches, agrees: “I love Kim. She’s brought such great energy to the team. Since day one, she poured everything she had into learning the sport and the craft… and that’s what it takes to advance as a paddler.”
What makes dragon boating so special is its emphasis on synchronization and shared effort—values that closely mirror the work Kim does each day in the district. “You can come in with different physical abilities, ages, and backgrounds, and still paddle together as one,” Angela said. “It’s all about being in sync, building trust, and moving forward together.”
That same team spirit fuels Kim’s day-to-day at the district. She speaks highly of her colleagues under the leadership of Latrina Singleton, crediting them for her continued happiness and motivation. One especially supportive team member is her supervisor (pictured above: right), Megan Johnson, who attended the competition last weekend and even snapped a selfie with Kim after one of the races. Other colleagues tuned in online, watching a live feed of the action and cheering her on virtually from afar.
“Everybody cares about each other and learns each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Kim said. “I’ve had my three years of happiness, absolutely. I love it here.” She attributes that joy 100% to her school district team.
Kim’s ambitions extend far beyond medals and milestones. Her goals include earning her PhD in special education, writing a book, training teachers to build their professional capacity without burnout, and lastly, achieving five years of happiness.
On the paddling side, she’s aiming for a spot with Team USA for next year’s International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships in Taiwan, and hopes to eventually steer and coach youth paddling teams.
Just last weekend, Kim and her teams—Senior Mixed and Senior Women—earned second place finishes, securing berths to compete on the world stage.
And this Saturday, she’ll take on one of her toughest challenges yet: the Chattajack, a grueling 31-mile endurance race through the Tennessee River Gorge.
Wherever the water takes her, we know one thing for sure: Kim Sheffield will bring her unwavering grit, contagious positivity, and deep love of teamwork with her. And we’ll be cheering every step (or stroke) of the way.
Good luck, Kim... we’re proud of you!