With the faint noise of her kids playing in the background, her eyes dart back and forth between her textbook and homework. She’s determined to finish. As her computer chimes, she’s brought out of her focused state and reminded that she has other responsibilities outside of college.

After being an educator for 14 years, four of those spent at Killough, assistant principal Kyndra Tyler decided to go back to school to receive her doctoral degree in organizational change from Baylor. She’s excited for the relationships she will make with the people around her and the opportunities it will bring.

“When you’re a teacher you go to professional development but now I kind of have to figure it out on my own,” Tyler said. “But in order to to make myself a better assistant principal and eventually a principal I need to be always learning how to perfect my craft.”

Tyler strongly believes a person never stops learning and she wants to emphasize the importance of education. She hopes to set an example for her students and colleagues through lifelong learning.

“She can communicate and share her experiences of overcoming the challenges associated with obtaining a doctoral degree with students who may be having difficulties overcoming their own educational challenges,” World Geography teacher Steve Badyna said.

Assistant principal Joel Leader shares the same belief that learning is a lifelong skill and thinks this experience will help Tyler expand her knowledge and help her pass that on to her students.

“I think from a professional standpoint it’s good because a lot of times when you’re doing your bachelors degree it’s more theory than practice,” Leader said. “So going back to school after a number of years in the classroom or a school setting gives you a frame of reference.”

Although this experience will come with numerous benefits, Tyler has faced many challenges in regard to juggling her school work, her job as an assistant principal and being a mother of two kids.

“My calendar that used to have only a little on there is now bombarded with everything in my life,” Tyler said. “There’s something that I can’t always go to but I try to make it all fit in.”

Tyler’s colleagues admire her ability to maintain a positive attitude despite having an incredibly busy schedule. Badyna also commends Tyler for her willingness to go the extra mile for her students.   

“She is positive, solution-oriented, driven and has a great sense of humor,” Badyna said.  “People want to be around her and I think that alone says a lot about her.”

Throughout this school career, Tyler has various goals she hopes to accomplish, including finishing the three year Baylor Online EdD and Organizational Change program in time and not going over those three years.

“It’s expensive,” Tyler said. “I can’t make a D or a C when it’s so expensive. I’ve already started it and I pay a lot for it so I’m going to make sure that I finish.”

Once she receives her doctoral degree, Tyler wants to continue being an assistant principal. In the future she hopes to be a principal and possibly an assistant superintendent. Tyler feels this academic opportunity will help her move forward with her career as an educator.

“I think everybody should take advantage of school because it opens up a lot of doors that you may not have the opportunity to come and break down if you didn’t have school,” Tyler said. “This will open up other doors that allow me to move up in my career. You don’t just stop here you know, you reach all the levels and you get as much as you can get while you can.”