Some people are born to be teachers and Kayleigh Steinmetz is definitely one of those individuals. As the English teacher at Stanley-Boyd High School, she teaches with her heart and her patience and support are felt by every student that she interacts on a daily basis. Kayleigh graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts for Secondary English Education, and she continued her education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout where she earned her Master of Science in Education with an emphasis on Literacy Instruction.
Many of the people in Kayleigh’s family, including her great grandma, younger brother, husband and both of her parents, are teachers or educators so it seemed natural that Kayleigh would follow in their footsteps. She says, “I think teaching is a part of my DNA at this point” and adds that, “it is a family affair.” Still, Kayleigh chose to become at teacher for her own reasons. “Teachers were always the people in my life who guided me toward making an impact in the world. I wanted to be able to make that same impact.”
Mr. Adams was that one of the teachers that impacted Kayleigh’s life in a positive way. “My high school Math teacher, Mr. Adams, always taught us in ways that were outside of the normal expectations. He always taught us that we could get the answer, but we might have to try multiple ways before we got there. It helped me become a problem solver.” She adds that not only have teachers shaped her life, but her students have as well. “All of the students I have taught at Stanley-Boyd have left a lasting impact on me. They have all shaped me into the teacher that I am today.”
The students, families, and staff of Stanley-Boyd schools are lucky to have Kayleigh as an educator, but she almost didn’t teach here. Kayleigh explains, “I was teaching in Chicago when I first graduated from college. They were laying teachers off, so I decided that I would apply for jobs in Wisconsin because my Grandparents lived in Darlington, WI. I applied for any English job that came up, and I received an invitation to interview at Stanley-Boyd.” She shared that she had never heard of the area but thought that interviewing would not hurt. She was offered the job and moved to Stanley. “I haven’t looked back since!” Kayleigh comments.
Kayleigh is completely devoted to her family and together with her husband Nathan, the principal at Cadott High School, they are raising their children, David (7) and Sophie (4) and their beloved goldendoodle, Benny, in a home they built four years ago in Cadott. Kayleigh and
her family enjoy spending time outdoors together, hiking and fishing, or when they want to relax at home, they have family game nights. When Kayleigh gets some time to herself, she loves to watch her favorite movie, Beauty and the Beast, or her favorite tv show, Friends. She is a Beatles fan, and her favorite song is ‘Let it Be.’ Kayleigh mentions that her family loves to travel and see new places. “We travel often to visit our family - some live in Western Wisconsin, while others live in Illinois,” Kayleigh adds.
Growing up in Bartonville, Illinois, Kayleigh is the perfect mix of Wisconsin and Illinois and that spills out through her love of football and baseball when she mentions that her favorite teams to cheer for are the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs.
Kayleigh has been a teacher for fifteen years with fourteen of those years in Stanley and she still faces challenges and obstacles in her classroom that she has to navigate. She explains, “The hardest challenge I face as a teacher is finding enough time in the day to get everything done that I need to. I try hard to plan ahead and use time management, but I would say this is a challenge that I’m still trying to solve!”
As a parent herself, Kayleigh understands how important their children’s education is to parents. She wants parents to know that she is dedicated to the future success of her students. “I will always teach the whole student. I work to ensure I am helping students in my class and the outside world. I want them to be good citizens, and I want to give them the tools to do whatever they are motivated to do when they leave.”
She remarks that her students have shown her how important persistence and determination are when life throws challenges your way. “They have taught me to not stop trying no matter how difficult something may be. Kids are the most resilient humans, and they can do difficult things. When they persevere, it inspires me to as well,” she states. Kayleigh looks forward to watching her students learn new things about themselves in her classroom. “I enjoy watching students discover things they love. Whether that is something they learn in the classroom or something they discover about themselves in an extra-curricular activity.”
With Spring on the horizon, Kayleigh is already excited for summer and the fun that comes with it. “I started a summer theater program when I began working at Stanley-Boyd. I always tell the students that it is one of my favorite things that I get to do as a teacher.” She adds that she is excited to start planning for the summer program that will run in June.
As the Senior Class Advisor, Kayleigh is also looking forward to graduation which will be here before you know it. “I am also excited to help our Seniors navigate graduation. As Senior class advisor, I get the chance to work with our students through the end of their time here. I am always so proud to see what they will do when they head out on their own.” In addition to Senior Class Advisor, Kayleigh has many roles at Stanley-Boyd including, Drama Club advisor, Student Council advisor, and the Pep Club advisor. She states, “I enjoy teaching our students how to give back to their community.”
Kayleigh is an amazing educator who goes above and beyond for the Stanley-Boyd School District. Parents and students can rest assured that with teachers like Kayleigh Steinmetz, their futures will be bright!
