Thursday, October 1, 2026
For Kim Wheeler, community service has never been about recognition. It has been about showing up, listening to others and trying to make a difference in the lives of students and families.
Wheeler, the senior director of specialty leasing with Kimco Realty Corporation, spent nine years serving on the Board of Education, where she took part in decisions affecting students, families and the broader school community. Looking back, she sees the work less as a list of accomplishments than as an opportunity to give back to the children in Valley Stream 24 School District.
“What means the most to me is knowing that I helped create opportunities for children and contributed to decisions that shaped their educational experiences,” Wheeler said. “If I’ve left a positive mark on even a small part of their journey, then I consider that my greatest accomplishment.”
That approach to service reflects values Wheeler said were shaped early in her life.
She lost her father when she was 10 years old, and watched her mother work hard to raise Wheeler and her two sisters. Those experiences taught her the importance of family, responsibility and helping others. They also shaped her willingness to step forward when her community needs someone to do so.
That commitment has extended across her professional and personal life. Wheeler has worked at Kimco Realty while also balancing her responsibilities as a board member and as a wife and mother. She has been married to her husband, Scott, for more than 30 years, and is the mother of James and Mikayla.
Serving on the school board required a substantial time investment. Meetings, events and other responsibilities often occupied evenings and weekends that otherwise could have been spent on personal activities. For Wheeler, the greatest sacrifice was time, particularly as she balanced a career and family life.
But the experience also became something her children could see firsthand.
Wheeler was proud that James and Mikayla could watch her advocate for students, work to improve schools, and support programs that benefited the community.
“I hope they learned that making a difference sometimes requires sacrifice, but that giving back is one of the most meaningful things you can do,” Wheeler said. “Knowing that I was able to serve our students while also showing my own children the value of community involvement is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
That emphasis on service is closely connected to how Wheeler approaches leadership. She describes her style as collaborative, compassionate and grounded in integrity. Rather than viewing leadership as having all the answers, she believes it involves listening, considering different perspectives and making decisions based on the people being served.
During her years on the Board of Education, Wheeler tried to be prepared, transparent and approachable. She also carried those principles into her professional life. In both settings, she understood that leaders’ decisions have consequences for real people.
Consensus, when possible, was important to her, but so was maintaining a focus on the human side of leadership. Wheeler wanted to do what was right, even when the decision was not necessarily the easiest, while treating people with kindness and respect.
For Wheeler, collaboration became one of the most important lessons of her nine years on the board.
She does not view the progress made during her tenure as the work of any one individual. Instead, she points to the board’s ability to listen to differing opinions, respect one another and work toward a shared goal.
“No single board member achieves anything alone,” Wheeler said. “The progress we made was possible because nine individuals were willing to listen to one another, respect differing opinions and work toward a common goal. My hope is that the spirit of collaboration continues for future boards because when people come together with a shared commitment to students, the entire community benefits.”
Wheeler also takes a long view of the impact of her service. She does not expect students who were in kindergarten when she first joined the board to remember her name years from now. What matters more to her is the possibility that they will remember attending schools where they felt supported, challenged and inspired to reach their potential.
She recognizes that District 24 already had a strong foundation when she joined the board and considers it a privilege to have helped strengthen opportunities and experiences for students.
Ultimately, Wheeler measures her legacy not by a single accomplishment, but by whether she helped contribute to student success and reinforced a culture of teamwork, respect and service.
That record of community involvement was recognized July 29, when Assemblywoman Judy Griffin celebrated Wheeler and 17 other women at her annual Women of Distinction Ceremony. The event, held in the Larini Room at Molloy University, honored 18 women for their leadership, service and dedication to Assembly District 21 and the greater community.
“Being named a Woman of Distinction is both humbling and deeply gratifying because it acknowledges years of service, advocacy and collaboration,” Wheeler said.
For Wheeler, the recognition reflects the years she devoted to students and families. More importantly, it underscores the community legacy she has sought to build: one grounded not in personal recognition, but in service, collaboration and the belief that helping others is worth the time and effort it requires.
