31 Jul 2021 Person of the Month: Kyla Glasser, Searcy Teacher of the Year
CITY WHERE YOU LIVE: Searcy.
FAMILY: My parents are Jim and Mona Diles of Pangburn; my husband is Daniel Glasser; and, my children are Samuel, Gabe, Gracen and Rhett.
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts from Harding University in early and mid-level education in 2004; Master of Science in school counseling in 2008 from Harding University.
WORK: I teach seventh- and eighth-grade science at Ahlf Junior High at Searcy School District. Department chair; has worked for the district since August of 2005.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO YOUR FIELD: I grew up surrounded by educators. There isn’t a branch in my family tree where someone wasn’t a teacher. I remember helping my mom get her classroom ready for the next school year and grading papers. I loved it! I knew from early on that I was going to teach. I just didn’t know what grade level or subject. I had a science teacher, Dr. David Collins, in ninth grade, who showed me how a good teacher taught. I wanted to teach like him. I love everything about teaching, well except for grading. I love to teach others how to teach as well. I am an adjunct for Harding University and have led trainings at the state and national level on things I have implemented in my classroom.
WHAT AWARDS AND HONORS HAVE YOU RECEIVED: 2021 Searcy Teacher of the Year; 2020 Featured on KARK for integrating virtual students with my in-person students; 2020 Searcy School District Shooting Star Award; 2017 Arkansas State Finalist for Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; and, 2011 National Board Certification.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:I lead my school to partner with Operation Homefront to provide toys at Christmas for Arkansas military families. Annually, we raise $5,000 worth of toys.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES: AWANA Listener.
MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION: I am not much of a materialistic person because family means everything to me. My most cherished possession has to do with family. I have my great-grandmother’s ring that has a stone for my mother’s immediate family and all six of the first cousins. I was 10 when my grandmother passed away. I remember getting that ring out of her jewelry box and sitting on her lap and her telling me which of the 12 stones belonged to whom in the family. It is a cherished memory. Seven years ago, my parents gave me the ring for Christmas. I wear it every day.
MOST ENJOYED WEEKEND ACTIVITY:Most weekends, you will find me at some type of sporting event for one of our kids. I spend lots of weekends at soccer fields, swimming pools, and tennis courts. However, when we don’t have a sporting event, I love visiting family and friends and being outdoors. My husband’s parents live in Izard County, and we like to go up there to fish and spend time on their cattle farm. I also like to curl up with a good book on a rainy weekend. My husband and I also love to go antique shopping and looking for unique pieces to add to our house.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN THE 501: I love living in the 501 because there is so much to do outdoors. The Little Red River, Greers Ferry Lake, camping, woods, and just the beauty of nature. At the same time, there are lots of fun places to shop.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE: I served on the committee to write the science standards for the state of Arkansas and have worked on various projects with the state Department of Education. I have partnered with ACT to write and edit questions on their assessments.
