Karen Blackburn

Karen Blackburn (née Fiore), is a 2000 graduate in English Literature & History/Theory of Art. After working in education and earning a master’s degree from Columbia University, she has focused on home-schooling, integrating a wide range of subjects into her children's daily learning. 

A highlight of her career was working with Save the Children in Mozambique. 

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

During my first year at Kent, I started working with children at an afterschool program in Canterbury.  I continued this when I came back to America and worked with children afterschool and managed programs in Chicago.  I then went on to get a master’s degree at Columbia University's Teachers College in Sociology and Educational Policy.  After Columbia, I moved back to Chicago to teach early childhood education and continued working with school-aged children.  A little over ten years ago we started a family, and I stayed home with my girls and watched other children out of our home.  I now home-school my three daughters (and sometimes other children, too!).

What does a typical work day look like for you?

It's all about learning.  Their day of school starts around 9am and ends between 3pm and 4pm.  We take a break in the middle of the day for 1½-hours.  I teach preschool, 2nd grade, and 6th grade.  We start off with Language Arts and Math, then the afternoon is for reading aloud during art, social/emotional exercises, and two blocks.  These encompass history, biographies, science, social sciences, and geography.  For example, we just finished a block on Back to School Around the World, that encompassed geography and social sciences, and a Block on Malala Yousafzai, which encompassed biography, history, religion, geography, and social sciences.  Next up is Ancient Egypt and Cleopatra!

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

Working with Save the Children in Mozambique. I was able to visit for about a month and got to meet the family and village of the little girl I was sponsoring at the time. Because of my experience in education, I was able to stay and work with Save the Children and see where funding goes in the villages around Xai-Xai.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

The life experience of meeting so many people from around the world, traveling, and following my heart by staying at Kent (when I was supposed to come home and go back to Indiana University) was one of the most valuable lessons for my personal and professional life.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

If you're going to teach, you've got to be open to embracing all of the life experiences you can.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

I worked two jobs in Canterbury - one at an after school club and summer camp, and another at a shop in the Butter Market. I acted in a couple of plays my second year and remember many social activities around campus!

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

Calling my parents in America from a little red phone booth to tell them I wanted leave my American university and register as a Kent student for my last year of Uni!

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

I started off as an exchange student and ended up transferring to Kent to finish my degree - it was a dream experience.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

I often wish I had kept in touch more, and not being on social media plays into that. I do keep in touch with one friend, and that's wonderful.

What are your future ambitions?

After nearly 25 years, my husband and I are planning on relocating to England in the next couple of years. It is something that I've always thought about. After having our girls and getting to know the foster care system here by becoming a foster family, we're ready for a new adventure and change.