About Your Instructor
Kathryn Miles Payne
I am excited to introduce myself as the Owner and Director of Kumon Alamo Heights! Although I was born and raised in McAllen, Texas, I have called San Antonio my home for over 20 years. My family is deeply rooted in the Alamo Heights community. My grandmother was a teacher at St. Peter’s Catholic School, and my father and many aunts, uncles, and cousins graduated from Alamo Heights High School. I graduated from Texas State University, majoring in Mass Communication with a focus on Broadcast Journalism. After three years in journalism, I was called to pursue my love of working with children. Now, with over 20 years of experience in education, I bring the knowledge and a passion for learning to Kumon Alamo Heights.
I began my career teaching Kindergarten, a role I cherished for seven years. For the remainder of my educational career, I served as a Reading and Writing Instructional Coach for Kindergarten through 5th grade at Lackland AFB Elementary. In this capacity, I facilitated the Success for All curriculum, an ability-based approach to reading instruction, where I meticulously tested and placed approximately 600 students each quarter. I coordinated and analyzed the testing data to ascertain each student’s appropriate reading level. I contributed to the curriculum alignment and lesson design of curriculum resources, ensuring they met grade-level state standards.
This role allowed me to focus on the whole child, ensuring each student’s confidence and success through multiple measures. The transient military population I served challenged me to meet each child where they were and develop a plan to intervene and accelerate their learning in the short time we would have them. Armed with this knowledge of an ability-based approach, I will seek Kumon’s principle of the “just-right” level of study for every student.
My approach has always been hands-on, working closely with teachers across all grade levels, modeling lessons, and providing professional development. I had the honor of being nominated by my colleagues and selected for the KENS-5 EXcel Teacher of the Year; it was an honor to receive the accolade from my peers. I am passionate about all types of learners and continually update my training in gifted and talented education, special education, dyslexia, and safety care.
I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where all learners can thrive, a philosophy I am excited to bring to Kumon Alamo Heights.
Outside of my professional life, I am a wife to Chris and a mother to our teenage son, Preston. My family is my greatest source of joy and inspiration; we love spending time together. We are a Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lego building, Beach, Golf, and Labradoodle-loving family!
I am eager to apply my extensive background in education to drive the success and growth of this community I serve. Together with our families, we will achieve great things!