05/30/2026
Congratulations to Kayla Hurst, DSEA’s Teacher of the Month for May!
A math teacher at Howard High School of Technology in the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District, Kayla began her teaching career in 2021. A nationally certified STEM teacher, she also serves as the advisor for the Class of 2028 and coaches both the school’s girls’ and boys’ volleyball teams.
After graduating from Brandywine High School in 2017, Kayla earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Delaware and a master’s degree in STEM Education from American College of Education.
“Ms. Hurst is the greatest teacher ever,” one of her students told us. “She deserves every bit of this award. Even though she could be hard on me, she was always pushing me to get better at math and I’m grateful.”
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
In high school, I had a math teacher who truly believed in me, even when I doubted myself. She pushed me to see the value in learning, challenged me to work through difficult concepts, and constantly reminded me that I was capable of more. Because of her, I began to feel confident, competent, and empowered to take on hard coursework and reach goals I never imagined for myself. That experience inspired me.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡?
My secret is making math feel relevant, achievable, and engaging. Students are more interested when they see real-world connections and feel confident in their ability to succeed. I focus on creating a supportive classroom where mistakes are part of learning, while also using hands-on activities, collaboration, and positive relationships to keep students motivated and involved.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
Go into education because you genuinely want to make a difference in students’ lives. Teaching can be challenging, especially early on. But it is also incredibly rewarding. Build strong relationships with students, stay open to learning from other educators, and remember that you do not have to be perfect to have a positive impact. The small moments of growth, confidence, and connection with students make the hard work worth it.