Employee Spotlight: Carson Jimenez and Sharon McMillan
Every August, parents across the Carolinas start the familiar scramble supply lists, earlier bedtimes, first-day photos, and the quiet worry that comes with sending a child into a brand-new classroom.
At King Law, two members of our Forest City team have been on the other side of that first-day door. Carson Jimenez, our Coordinator of Training and Development, spent her early career teaching kindergarten and first grade. Sharon McMillan, a clerk in our accounting department, spent thirty years in education before retiring and joining our team.
Between them, they have welcomed hundreds of children into a classroom on the first day of school. We asked them what they learned along the way about kids, about families, and about what it really takes to start a school year well. Read below some back to school advice.
Meet Carson Jimenez
Carson graduated from East Carolina University in 2020 with a degree in Elementary Education and taught kindergarten and first grade at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School. Today she oversees training and professional development across King Law, including King Law University, our internal training program.
What inspired the transition from education to King Law?
I absolutely loved being a teacher and helping little minds grow and learn. There is nothing like watching a child finally understand a new concept, you can literally see the lightbulb turn on. I began teaching during the height of COVID, when everything was fully remote. Teaching five-year-olds over Zoom was incredibly challenging, especially since many of them had never been in a classroom before. We eventually transitioned to a hybrid schedule and then back to full-time in-person learning. I looped up with my kindergarten class and taught them again in first grade, which allowed me to build such strong relationships with my students.
Although I loved my students, I realized I was becoming burnt out. I knew I wanted to continue teaching and helping others learn, just in a different way. One of my best friends, Kelsey Hall, who was a case manager with King Law for many years, encouraged me to apply for the Coordinator of Training and Development position. Leaving education was a scary decision, but Stacey made the interview process so welcoming and took the time to answer all of my questions, which made the transition much easier. Looking back, it was the perfect fit because I still get to do what I love most helping people learn and grow.
How has teaching prepared you for your current role?
Every student learns differently, so I quickly learned how to adapt my teaching style, communicate with a variety of people, and provide ongoing support. Those same skills have carried over into onboarding and training new team members at King Law. Whether I’m leading King Law University, creating training materials, or working one-on-one with someone, I still get to do what I enjoyed most as a teacher, helping people gain confidence and succeed.
Why is continuous learning so important?
No one wants to feel like they’ve reached a stopping point with nowhere else to grow. There is always something new to learn, whether it’s developing a new skill, improving a process, or learning from someone else’s experience. Growth keeps us engaged, builds confidence, and helps us better serve our clients and one another.
How does King Law invest in employee development?
King Law has made a huge investment in employee development through King Law University (KLU). It has been exciting to watch leaders build training materials and resources that help team members continue learning long after onboarding. KLU gives employees the opportunity to ask questions, practice new skills, collaborate with teammates, and continue growing throughout their careers. Investing in our people ultimately helps us provide even better service to our clients.
What’s one piece of advice for parents preparing their children for a new school year?
Get to know your child’s teacher and communicate often. Building that relationship early creates a great partnership throughout the school year.
I also encourage parents to help their children become more independent with small everyday tasks before school starts. Things like opening a water bottle, unzipping a backpack, zipping a jacket, or opening a string cheese package may seem simple, but they can make a big difference in the classroom. Teachers are always happy to help, but they are often assisting an entire class at once.
Finally, stay engaged with your child’s school. Many schools use communication apps like ClassDojo or ParentSquare. Download the app, turn on notifications, and stay connected. Good communication between home and school makes a tremendous difference in a child’s success.
Meet Sharon McMillan
Sharon earned her B.S. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and her M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She spent thirty years in the classroom before retiring and joining King Law, where she works with clients on billing, payments, and past-due balances.
What helps children most during the transition back to school?
One of the best ways to ease the transition is to help children become familiar with their new school environment. If possible, families should visit the school, meet the teacher, locate the classroom, or look at photos of the building ahead of time. Reading books about returning to school can also help younger children understand what to expect. Parents should also begin adjusting bedtimes, wake-up times, meal schedules, and screen time about one to two weeks before school starts so children can settle into a consistent routine.
What are some common mistakes parents make?
One common mistake is prolonging goodbyes at school. Lingering farewells can unintentionally reinforce a child’s anxiety. A warm, confident, and predictable goodbye helps children transition more smoothly.
Another mistake is focusing only on school supplies. While buying backpacks and new clothes is exciting, children also need opportunities to talk about their hopes, worries, and questions regarding the new school year.
How can parents help set children up for success in the classroom?
Children often mirror their parents’ attitudes about school. Parents can help by talking about school as a place to learn, grow, make friends, and discover new interests rather than focusing solely on grades or test scores.
Reading is also one of the most valuable ways to prepare children for academic success. Spending just 15 to 20 minutes each day reading together or encouraging independent reading supports vocabulary development, comprehension, attention, and achievement across all subject areas.
What role do routines and communication play?
Open communication helps children feel emotionally supported during this important transition. Parents who regularly talk with their children create an environment where concerns can be shared before they become larger problems. That means asking open-ended questions such as, “What are you looking forward to this year?” or “Is there anything you’re nervous about?” It also means listening without immediately trying to solve every problem, encouraging children to express their feelings, and reassuring them that it’s normal to feel both excited and anxious about new experiences.
Communication should also extend beyond conversations at home. Building a positive partnership with teachers helps parents stay informed about classroom expectations, academic progress, and any concerns that arise during the year.
Equally important are consistent daily routines. Predictable routines reduce uncertainty, lower stress, and allow children to focus on learning rather than worrying about what comes next. Helpful routines include consistent sleep schedules, calm and organized mornings, a regular time and place for homework, and preparing backpacks and clothing the night before. These habits help children develop executive functioning skills, organization, time management, planning, and self-discipline that contribute to long-term academic success and independence.
The Back-to-School Checklist, According to Two Teachers
If you take nothing else from Carson and Sharon, take this:
- Start the routine early. Shift bedtimes, wake-up times, and screen time one to two weeks before the first day.
- Visit the school before day one. Walk the halls, find the classroom, meet the teacher if you can.
- Practice the small stuff. Water bottles, backpack zippers, jackets, snack wrappers, independence in those moments adds up.
- Keep goodbyes short and confident. A lingering farewell tells a child there’s something to worry about.
- Talk about more than supplies. Ask what they’re excited about and what they’re nervous about.
- Read 15 to 20 minutes a day. It’s the single highest-return habit for academic success.
- Download the school’s app. Turn on notifications and stay in the loop from day one.
- Build the teacher partnership early. Introduce yourself before there’s ever a problem to solve.
Why This Matters to Us
A new school year is a transition, and transitions are what our clients bring to us every day a custody schedule that needs to work around a new bell schedule, a blended household figuring out who handles pickup, a parent navigating a school year in two homes for the first time.
The same principles Carson and Sharon describe, routine, preparation, and honest communication are the ones we talk through with families in our family law practice. Children do better when the adults around them are aligned and the plan is clear.
If you have questions about a custody schedule, a parenting plan, or a consent order before the school year begins, our family law team is here to help. Call King Law at (888) 748-5464 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.
Carson Jimenez and Sharon McMillan both work out of King Law’s Forest City, North Carolina office. King Law serves clients from more than 25+ offices across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Small towns. Big relationships.
