Teaching Strategies Employee Spotlight: Kayla, Senior Manager, Partner Success
Kayla’s career started with AmeriCorps in Fort Worth, Texas, where she worked to address food insecurity and the impact of food deserts across the country. Through this work, collaborating with school districts on food and nutrition programs, she says she “deepened [her] passion for supporting children and families.” That passion led her to the United Way of Denton County, Texas, where she worked closely with the Early Childhood Coalition to connect families with valuable resources—including ReadyRosie.
Her experience as the Education Director at United Way led Kayla to join ReadyRosie full-time to support early childhood education on a larger scale. Kayla says, “When ReadyRosie became part of Teaching Strategies, it felt like the perfect fit. The mission, values, and commitment to supporting educators and families aligned seamlessly with everything I had been working toward.”
Today, Kayla is the Senior Manager of Partner Success at Teaching Strategies, where she leads a team of seven Partner Success Specialists who support our partners along the East Coast. While no two days are the same for Kayla, her role is about ensuring our partners feel empowered, supported, and set up for success.
Talking about her current role, Kayla says, “I feel incredibly grateful to be part of an organization that is making such a meaningful impact in early childhood education.”
Recently, we asked Kayla to share her thoughts on work and life at Teaching Strategies.
Tell us about your experience when you joined Teaching Strategies.
Joining Teaching Strategies was both exciting and a bit daunting, but I was ready for the adventure. Coming from the ReadyRosie space, my introduction to Teaching Strategies began with the merging of our team with an already established one. This transition created valuable learning opportunities and ultimately paved the way for the exciting career I have today!
How has TS supported your professional growth during your time with the company?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have access to some of the best and brightest minds in our field! Teaching Strategies offers LinkedIn Learning courses, which I take full advantage of, but I believe the most valuable opportunity is the TS Mentorship Program. I’ve learned so much from my mentor, and I truly believe that having an internal thought partner is one of the most impactful ways TS has supported my growth as a young-ish professional.
What are you looking forward to this year at Teaching Strategies?
I am beyond excited about the early literacy resources at Teaching Strategies! Literacy is such a foundational piece of a child’s learning journey, and I love that we are continuously enhancing the tools and support we provide to educators and families. As a parent of a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old, I see firsthand just how important it is to nurture a love for reading from an early age. Watching my own children grow as readers makes me even more passionate about the work we do. Seeing the impact these resources have in classrooms—helping children build confidence and excitement around literacy—makes this work incredibly rewarding. I’m looking forward to collaborating with our partners to ensure they feel empowered to use these tools in ways that truly make a difference for young learners.
What is the best piece of career advice you’ve received, and how is it reflected during your time with TS?
One of the best pieces of career advice I’ve ever received is to believe the best in one another. This principle comes from ReadyRosie, where it was originally stated as
“We believe the best in each other and those we serve. We love our work!” This mindset has stayed with me over the years, and I often reflect on it. It helps me maintain perspective and approach situations with understanding. When we assume the best intentions in others, we’re less likely to react impulsively or assume the worst, allowing for more thoughtful and constructive interactions.
