Welcome to our Featured Educator Spotlight, where we celebrate the incredible teachers shaping the future of our community. This week, we are excited to highlight Kayla Walls, an east Tennessee educator who has spent 9 of her 10 years teaching Kindergarten and 1st grade. Every educator’s journey begins with a spark, but for some, the path leads right back to where it all started. As we navigate the ever-evolving world of teaching, the heart of the classroom remains the same: it is built on connection, community, and creativity. Read on to learn more about her journey, her classroom philosophy, and her inspiring dedication to her students.
The Calling: Growing Up in a Village
With a decade in education under her belt, Kayla often reflects on what inspired her to step into this role. Growing up in a large family, she spent her childhood surrounded by smaller cousins and family members. She always simply loved being around children and wanted to make a tangible difference in their lives.
A Wild Ride of Grade Levels
Kayla has taught in two schools, and has dedicated 9 of her 10 years to teaching Kindergarten and 1st grade. Her start in 2016 was a whirlwind. Before she even graduated college, she taught on an emergency waiver, jumping into a little bit of everything! She first started teaching 7th and 8th-grade math—which was comical for someone who absolutely hated math. From there, she navigated maternity leaves across 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, and even taught Teen Living (think Home Ec).
Coming Home
Kayla’s favorite part of being an educator is deeply tied to the community she serves. She shared how proud she was to teach in Tennessee, specifically at her alma mater where she attended grades K-12. In fact, Kayla currently teaches in the exact same classroom that was her kindergarten classroom. There is a profound joy in giving back to her community and teaching the children of families she knows and loves.
Classroom Family: Love Over Everything
As a lower elementary teacher, Kayla’s biggest challenges are usually social and emotional. Many of her students come from less-than-ideal situations and deal with challenging home lives. To overcome this, she believes her job is to simply love her students, build positive relationships, and create a true “classroom family.”
This philosophy is beautifully summed up by her favorite quote: “Children learn best when they like their teacher and when they think their teacher likes them.”
Kayla knows building these bonds takes time, but also that it makes more of an impact than focusing on academics alone. One of her favorite success stories involves a student who came to her classroom with very little educational background, had just been potty-trained, and barely spoke. Kayla was able to loop with the student’s class from Kindergarten to 1st grade. When she later transferred schools mid-year, she still made time to go back and visit her former students at the school. That one student that was so close to her heart was so impacted by their bond that he had taped a picture of them to his pencil box so he could see her every day, even though she wasn’t his teacher anymore.
Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
This educational journey has taught Kayla a vital lesson: never be afraid to pause and have fun. Sometimes, all a student needs is a smile, a laugh, or a hug.
As for her own quirks? Despite her 10 years of experience, she is naturally very shy and still greatly dislikes formal observations. While Kayla might get nervous, turn bright red, and mumble my words during an observation, she is a true team player and never turns down a visitor in her classroom, no matter who it is.
Advice for the New Teacher
To those just beginning their journey, remember this: You can’t and won’t do it all, and you shouldn’t have to. Find a really good mentor or friend, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most importantly, make those connections with your kids.
As for Kayla, this summer, she is focusing on relaxing while also preparing for next school year—because a new reading curriculum is on the way!
Submitted by: TN Educator Collective in Collaboration with Kayla Walls, Kindergarten Teacher