“One of my greatest joys is teaching the Bible to children and witnessing how powerfully the Lord can move in their lives, even at just five years old,” expressed Kayla Amacker, a Kindergarten Teacher at Awaken Christian Academy. “Worship and helping children grow in their faith are my deepest passions.”
Miss Amacker felt inspired to become a teacher from a young age. Many teachers influenced her life and instilled belief in her, and she realized she wanted to do the same for others.
“I wanted to make the same kind of impact on children; helping them not only learn but also feel seen, valued, and like they could accomplish anything they put their mind to,” she shared. “I hope to instill confidence, resilience, and a love for learning in my students. More than anything, as they leave my classroom at the end of the year, I want them to know they are capable, unique, and have a purpose.”
Miss Amacker describes her teaching style as hands-on, engaging, and, most importantly, fun. She believes that students learn best when they are fully involved in their lessons. To achieve this, she ensures that her students are active every day through interactive play, singing, dancing, and games, while also incorporating some technology into her lessons.
“I don’t want students to learn simply by memorizing things. I want them to really experience that lesson and love the process it took to figure out how to do that one thing they were struggling with,” she explained.
The most challenging aspect of teaching, especially in Kindergarten, is meeting the diverse needs of all students simultaneously.
“I overcome this challenge by building strong relationships with my students, learning their strengths, and finding ways to connect our lessons to their world,” she said. “I make an effort to get to know my students personally by asking about their interests, celebrating their successes, and showing up for them both inside and outside the classroom.”
Miss Amacker will be graduating from Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education this December. She intends to pursue her education until she obtains her doctorate. After achieving this goal, she would like to become a principal at a private Christian middle or high school.
“It is such an honor to be nominated for Teacher of the Month,” Miss Amacker gratefully exclaimed. “Teaching is truly my passion, and to be recognized for something I love doing is both humbling and encouraging. It makes me even more motivated to continue giving my best to my students.”
Kayla Amacker is a Mobile native and values living near her family and the friends she grew up with. Outside of the classroom, you’ll find her coaching volleyball and plans to begin coaching softball soon. She is pretty crafty and especially likes building balloon arches. Her faith plays a big role in her life, and she enjoys being active in her church where she sings on the worship team.
