Kayla is currently a Science Education Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University. She received her bachelor’s degree at UNCP Pembroke, as a Teaching Fellow, in Middle Grades Education. She received her Master’s degree at North Carolina State University in Science Education. Before pursuing her Ph.D., she taught middle grades math and science for 5 years in Pitt County. During her time as an educator, she was awarded a Kenan Fellowship, Teacher of the Year for her school, and took part in an Educator of Excellence Institute.