Kim Knotts, a "California Girl," was born and raised in Alhambra, CA.  At age 15, her family moved to Newport Beach.  Kim received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton. She then became a Certified Public Accountant, working for 15 years in the field. After giving birth to her first daughter Leah, Kim realized that accounting was not her calling. She returned to school, to Concordia University, to pursue a degree in teaching. Kim taught in the Fountain Valley School District for 25 years. During this time, she became a Cotsen family Foundation mentor; she stepped out of the classroom to mentor colleagues for two years. She attained her Master of Education from Walden University. Her assignment was mostly first grade at Newland Elementary School. During her time at Newland Elementary she helped draft several applications for Newland to be considered as a California Distinguished School and a National Blue Ribbon School. Newland won both awards twice!
     After retirement, Kim, who now resides in Laguna Woods, wrote a children's book for emergent readers in collaboration with her daughter, Emily Smith who is the illustrator. While Emily continues craft the illustrations, Kim is exploring avenues in which to have her book published. She has a few other children's book ideas percolating in her mind and plans to begin writing them soon.