Norman Public Schools -

For Kayla Melton, teaching is more than a profession—it’s a calling that runs deep in her family. With a father, an aunt, and a great-aunt in education, she grew up immersed in the world of teaching, sitting in on staff meetings as early as seven years old. Today, as a kindergarten teacher at Kennedy Elementary, she brings that lifelong passion and experience to her students, helping to build a foundation of learning that will carry them through their academic journey.

Kayla has been with Norman Public Schools for 11 years, spending her entire career at Kennedy Elementary. Over the years, she has taught nearly every grade from kindergarten to fifth, except fourth, gaining a unique perspective on elementary education. While she has enjoyed working with students at various levels, she finds kindergarten the most exciting and rewarding.

“I get to start them,” Kayla says. “I get to start that passion. I get to engage them in a love of reading, and we’re building the excitement for future grades.”

Her love for early childhood education is rooted in the joy of watching young learners blossom. Many of her students enter her classroom with little knowledge of letters or numbers, and by the time they leave, they have built essential skills that will shape their future success.

Kayla’s journey in Norman Public Schools began in 2014 when she taught third grade in an open-concept classroom at Kennedy, before the school had walls. She recalls that experience as a defining moment in her professional growth. “No walls allowed me to hear everyone’s strategies, techniques, and learning,” she says. “It was the biggest learning curve, but I loved it. The learning you hear is beautiful.”

A graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Kayla benefited from a unique co-teaching model that allowed her to take on a leadership role in the classroom from day one. That experience prepared her well for the collaborative environment she would later find in Norman.

Growing up in Verden, Oklahoma—a small town with just one stop sign—Kayla experienced the close-knit nature of a small community, a feeling she has rediscovered within Norman Public Schools. “In a big town like Norman, every individual school is like a small community,” she explains. “Each site feels like a family, yet we still get to collaborate across the district.”

Beyond the classroom, Kayla’s life revolves around her family. She and her husband, Josh, a Norman Police Officer, are deeply connected to the community. Their children, Kinley, 15, and Jax, 7, are active in sports, with Kayla spending much of her free time supporting their activities.

At Kennedy Elementary, she has become a cornerstone of the school’s culture. “I’m the longest-running teacher at Kennedy, and I’m only 34,” she says with a smile. “I have the fourth generation of a family in my class this year. That trust and relationship with families is what keeps me here.”

Being named a Teacher of the Year finalist is an emotional and humbling experience for Kayla. “I love my school. I love my students. I love my student’s families,” she says. “To represent the successes of Norman Public Schools—our educators, our students, and everything we pour into them—that is an honor beyond words.”

For Kayla, teaching is about more than academics. She prioritizes relationships before content, believing that trust and confidence must come first. “I can teach anyone the curriculum, but getting a child to trust you, to know you’ll always be there—that’s where it all starts,” she explains. “If I can develop that in every child, then I’ve done my job."

As she continues her journey, Kayla remains committed to the core values that have shaped her career: love, empathy, and an unwavering dedication to her students. “Every choice I make in my classroom comes from love,” she says. “That’s the best thing that can happen in any classroom.”