Photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor
Kyle Yenor grew up in the rural town of Morenci in Lenawee County, where he attended Morenci Area Schools K-12, was active in sports and enjoyed the simplicity of country living. After high school, Yenor moved to Ann Arbor and attended Eastern Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2013.
Yenor began his work with AAPS in 2014 while student teaching in a fifth grade classroom at Logan Elementary. Yenor says he quickly fell in love with the school and the AAPS district and felt fortunate to be hired as a second grade teaching assistant. The following year, he joined the Logan team as a full-time kindergarten teacher and eventually transitioned to fourth grade, which he has taught ever since. then.
In his free time, Yenor likes to exercise, golf, engage in outdoor activities, and spend time with family and friends. He says his wife, Brittany, is his secret weapon for creating classroom anchor charts.
Current hometown: Ann Arbor.
What is your favorite memory of fourth grade? My favorite memory of 4th grade is studying the state of Michigan and going on a trip to the capitol building.
What was always written on your report card? In grade school, my report card always said, “Kyle is highly competitive and enjoys recess.”
Who inspired you to become a teacher? I was inspired to be a teacher by my fifth grade teacher, Ryan Cunningham. He was the first male teacher I had, and he always made the school day exciting and fun.
In your five years with AAPS, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned about teaching? The most important thing I have learned about teaching is that students are capable of achieving anything. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about teaching is to listen to others. It provides so much insight into life in and out of the classroom.
Describe an average workday. My average workday starts early. Once at school, I begin my preparations for the day. I like to have everything laid out so when the bell rings and the students come in, we hit the ground running. We do a lot of small group and workshop-style learning, so there is a constant flow to the day. After school is for reflecting and catching up on additional building work.
What advice would you give a first-year teacher? My advice for a first-year teacher is to find a good friend/mentor that you can ask questions of, and share moments and laughs.
Favorite websites: My favorite websites are, Prodigy Math, ESPN, and Atlas Rubicon.
Apps you can’t live without: Google Translate and WatchESPN.
Three favorite devices: My three favorite devices are my headphones, laptop, and the laminator.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager? My favorite to-do list manager is the good ol’ index card. Few things match the happiness of crossing something off your to-do list.
What is unique about teaching at Logan? A unique part of teaching at Logan is the culture and diversity. It is an amazing place that embraces everyone.
What is the most rewarding part of teaching? The most reward part of teaching is watching the kids grow and have fun. The look that a student gets when they realize they’ve just learned something new or achieved a goal is unparalleled. They bring such an excitement and energy every day that is hard not to match.
What has surprised you most about the profession? What has surprised me most about this profession is the amount of detail that goes into every school day.
What do you wish everyone realized about the work of a teacher? A common unknown about teaching is how rewarding it is.
How do you recharge? I like to recharge by golfing, exercising and simply watching sports on the couch with my dog.
What’s most exciting about your professional life right now? Your personal life? The most exciting part of my professional life right now is implementing Assessment Literacy into my classroom. This program has provided clearer goals and focus for both my students and myself.
The most exciting thing happening in my personal life is supporting my wife, Brittany, as she becomes a registered nurse this December.
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