Student Spotlight: Kayla Whitacre

With the help of the Online Access Scholarship, which grants high-speed internet access and a refurbished laptop with a webcam to qualifying WGU Indiana students, Kayla is now pursuing her masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from WGU’s Teachers College while continuing to serve her diverse student body.

Learn more about Kayla’s WGU Indiana journey and the obstacles she was able to overcome to prioritize her education and her students.

What led you to pursue your Masters Degree with WGU Indiana?

I have many friends who have attended WGU for both their Bachelors and Masters degrees in education. They have had nothing but positive things to say about WGU, and I couldn’t wait to see for myself! The fact that the course work is completely at my own pace was a huge draw for me. Initially, I was worried that it would take quite awhile for me to finish my degree with how busy I am. I teach in-person full-time, tutor after school, coach middle school cheerleading and have 2nd grade and 5th grade children of my own. I have definitely surprised myself with how well I’ve done!

Can you tell us about your background in teaching and the 4th grade students you work with today?

I taught 8th grade Language Arts for two years in Fort Wayne before moving to Huntington and have taught 4th grade here in Huntington for the past five years. The students I have this year are a blast! I love their personalities and seeing the many ways they think. I have a very wide range of abilities in my class, and it has been a huge adjustment. These kiddos are actually the reason I chose the action research study I’m currently doing!

How has the Online Access Scholarship supported you personally and professionally?

Living in the country is amazing. I love that my children have a ton of room to run and play and that we have privacy. Unfortunately, the country isn’t the ideal location when it comes to internet service. We had one option for the internet, and it was very unreliable. There is no way I would have been able to complete this program without the hotspot that was provided from WGU. I love that they think about even the littlest things to help make all students successful.

Being a military spouse and having moved so often, how did that affect your life choices and ability to pursue an education?

My husband deployed during my first year of college and our son was born while he was in Iraq. I transferred to an online college the next year, and it was the best decision for me and my family. With the constant moves, it seemed almost impossible to continue to attend college in person!

How has WGU Indiana supported you and your family as a military family?

I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship from WGU that made a huge impact for us. Continuing my education has been put on the back burner for many years due to finances, and this scholarship was a huge blessing!

How does teaching in a low income school differ from other settings? How are the student needs different and how do you aim to meet them?

In my elementary school, we have many students who don’t have food at home, live with relatives other than mom and dad or their family is homeless. I am constantly buying extra snacks to give out to my kids. It is heartbreaking when they ask for a couple of extra snacks so their brother and sister can have something to eat for dinner.

While this may sound strange, teaching is not my main concern in my classroom. My focus is showing my kids that I love them unconditionally, that they can trust me, and to show them what a healthy relationship with an adult should look like. Building strong relationships has helped students feel comfortable coming to me about issues at home or with friends. I truly feel that these situations would not have been addressed if we didn’t have that relationship.

What lessons from your current coursework have you already applied or plan to based on your courses?

Reflexive learning! This is such an important aspect of learning that many aren’t purposefully implementing. When you teach students to understand how and why they think, it is mindblowing! Not only do they master the material, but they find intrinsic motivation that propels them to push themselves even further.

You prioritize building a relationship with your students and showing them how much you love learning; what are some of the techniques you use to set this example and build those relationships?

We spend the first couple weeks of school getting to know each other. They learn what I expect from them, but also who I am as a person. Since my son is in 5th grade, a lot of my current 4th grade students have been to my house for birthday parties and sleepovers. I believe that by seeing me in that different environment, it has helped them feel comfortable opening up to me.

When a student acts up or misbehaves, I don’t yell at them. We sit down together and have a conversation. I ask them to explain the reason they got in trouble and why they made that decision. We discuss the reasons why that behavior is unacceptable, and how they will handle similar situations differently in the future. They understand the consequences of their behavior, and take ownership of it. I always end our conversation by asking them, “Am I mad at you?” This takes them off guard the first time, but they reflect on our conversation and realize that I never raised my voice, talked down to them or threatened punishment. They see that I am not mad, but instead taking the time to teach them the error of their ways. By the second month of school, all of my students leave my classroom differently than they came in. I give out extra snacks if they need them, tell them I love them and help them feel excited to return to school the next day!

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about pursuing a degree but may have obstacles in their way?

It’s hard. It’s really hard. There are days that make you think that it isn’t worth it, you can’t afford it, it’s too overwhelming… but once you finish and get to walk into your own classroom on the first day of school and see those sweet little faces, it is definitely worth it! You are able to impact their little lives and shape the way they see themselves and others. They look to you to see how to interact with friends, how to think and how to learn. There really isn’t a more rewarding career than teaching!