Kayla U.

I always like to reflect on the time I first remember “being a teacher.” I recall lining up my stuffed animals (a.k.a. my first students) in front of my mom’s living room windows and writing basic math equations on them or reading my students the Giving Tree. It’s not everyday one can say they are living their childhood dream, but I can proudly claim that I am!

Being born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, I attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and received my B.Ed. in Elementary Education to have the privilege to pursue teaching in the public school system that inspired and educated me. I am currently an M.S. in Reading and Literacy candidate at California State University, Fullerton, and aspire to pursue a terminal degree in early childhood education curriculum design upon graduating. I moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2022 in hopes to continue to gain valuable experience and spread the “aloha” spirit with everyone I teach.

In my free time, I love to surf, run marathons/races, crochet, and of course, read!

I currently hold a Hawaii State Teacher’s License and am working to attain my California Teacher Credential. In Hawaii, I have one year of tutoring experience as a Hawaii Department of Education tutor at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu, Hawaii. I worked to meet the academic needs and provide educational activities for pediatric patients in grade K-12. This experience enhanced my ability to differentiate for diverse students and continued to develop my empathy. Upon leaving that position, I taught Kindergarten for two years at Moanalua Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii. That experience solidified my passion and advocacy for early childhood education. Currently, I am a Kindergarten Teacher at a charter school in Los Angeles, California!

“Ohana” means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. This simple quote resonates with my teaching style, in which I strongly believe in fostering relationships and having a humanistic approach to teaching and learning. As an early childhood educator, I have the immense privilege and joy to work with your child and you (parent/guardian). My approach of working as an “ohana” continues to spread love, trust, and joy in teaching and learning.