Educator Spotlight: Mr. Tyler Kossila

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have some absolutely amazing educators! Including Alliance Academy of Cincinnati‘s Tyler Kossila. Let’s get to know him a little bit better…

1. What was your favorite subject growing up?
Growing up, I loved math and science. I enjoyed these subjects because for the most part they were logical. There was a set of numbers and sometimes letters, and in the end it always made sense because there was a right answer. I also appreciated the connection between the two classes. What I was learning in math always seemed to correlate or be used to solve problems in chemistry and later on, physics. Math and science had real life connections, and they helped me make sense of the world around me.
2. What clubs and extracurriculars did you take part of as a student? 
In elementary school, I was part of a drama club. I enjoyed the drama club because we had the creative freedom to write and perform an original script and then compete against other schools. In high school, I
became more involved in the arts and took an interest in photography and ceramics. I had the opportunity to join the National Arts Honor Society and when I was a junior, I won a national silver medal for one of my photos. Additionally, I played two varsity sports, baseball and hockey, but during my time in school I tried playing soccer and cross country as well.
3. Who influenced you to go into teaching?
I’m not sure if one person influenced me to go into teaching. My mother has worked in schools for over 20 years, and I have an aunt who was a lifelong teacher. Throughout my life people would always tell me that I
would be a good teacher, but I never took them seriously. In my first year of college, I was exploring my interests and took an educational psychology course that piqued my interest in understanding how people and children learn. The decision to teach was further solidified when I participated in an adapted fitness club where I worked with people with disabilities to learn and practice exercise science. I continued to take similar courses and volunteer, which lead to me finally decide by year two that teaching was the career for me.

4. What is your favorite part of your daily teaching life?
My favorite part of the day is talking with the students. Kids are really funny! I love engaging with them outside of academics like discussing the Bengals game, talking about the movie they watched the night before, or even sharing some of our favorite musical artists with each other. When I was a student teacher, I was told that teachers must teach from the heart to the head, not the head to the heart. I try to live by that and getting to know my students is truly the best part of my day.
5. How many years have you been teaching?
I’ve been a teacher for six years. My first three years of teaching were in Washington D.C. as a Pre-K to 1st grade special education teacher. The past three years I’ve been an intervention specialist in Cincinnati, Ohio
for grades 4th to 7th.

6. In what ways are you active in your school’s community (coaching/clubs/volunteer work)?
I do after school tutoring at my school two days a week. I also helped create the school’s first Parent Teacher Organization. The school needed to find more ways to involve the parents in decision making, so we started an organization that meets monthly to discuss how the school and parents can work together to support the learning of all students. The group has grown from 2 members to over 15, and before spring break we organized a walk-a-thon to raise money for our school’s programs!

7. What is something interesting about you that your students would be surprised to learn?
Something interesting about me, although my students probably already know because I talk about it often, is that I’m a rock climber. I climb in a gym three days a week in addition to other fitness training, and on
weekends I take trips to climb outdoors. Climbing has brought me to some pretty cool places. In the spring and fall I frequent the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. I’ve travelled to West Virginia, Maryland, Las Vegas, Virginia, and my wife and I take an annual trip to Tennessee and Georgia to climb. I guess what makes this hobby unique is that I’m slightly afraid of heights. The sport is a great way for me to step outside of my comfort zone and be in the moment. When I’m 60 feet in the air clinging to the rock with just my fingers and toes, it forces me to be intentional about every move I make.


8. If you could pass along one piece of advice to your students, what would it be?
The piece of advice I’d like to pass along is to read as much as possible. I didn’t enjoy reading as a kid, but now as an adult, I’m an avid reader. Being able to read and think critically about what is being read is truly a
superpower and will help anyone navigate the world around them. Whether students are reading Harry Potter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or comic books, it doesn’t matter. As long as students continue to practice the skill and find joy in reading, it will set them up for success in the future.

Know a terrific teacher who is deserving of an Educator Spotlight? E-mail us at amandac@frg.inc