School district: St. Charles R-VI

Grade level/subject: High school English

Years teaching: 10 years

Years in MSTA: Nine years

Roles in MSTA: Current CTA Vice President and Greater St. Louis Region Board President, previous CTA Secretary, region member and region secretary

Why did you get involved with MSTA?

I initially got involved in MSTA as a first-year teacher in Lee's Summit because of a coworker. She told me about the perks of being in MSTA and convinced me to go to Convention, which I immediately loved. It's because of her that I became involved and passionate about MSTA. When I moved to St. Charles, my MSC Jen Conner recommended me to be a Member at Large, and from there I became involved at the regional level. The reason I started and the reason I stayed are the same: the people. I joined MSTA for one person, but involvement in MSTA connects me to so many people across the state. I love being able to work with, fight for and celebrate teachers.

What was a career-related highlight in 2024?

A career highlight for 2024 was reintroducing the Retirement and Awards Banquet to the Greater STL region. Our region board worked hard to bring back something that hadn't been done in our region for many years. As president, I felt proud to give back to our members and give our region retirees a celebration they deserve. 

What is advice you wish you could give yourself earlier in your career?

Advice I would have given myself earlier in my career would be that it really does take three years to feel like you know what you're doing, and that teaching is a marriage of curriculum and behavior management. I was a terrible teacher my first three years, seriously. Once I finally got the hang of things and felt confident, I moved across the state and had to start over! At that point, I knew my curriculum and was stronger in my behavior management, but it still took time to feel like I was a confident teacher. New teachers, you really will get there. Just trust yourself and give it time!

Why Kayla was named an Unsung Hero:

"Serving as a CTA Vice President and Greater St. Louis President, you won’t find a more cheerful, enthusiastic and forward-thinking leader than you will with Kayla," said MSTA Member Service Coordinator Jennifer Conner. "She is continuously looking for ways to engage and appreciate MSTA members."