Kyle Menter
Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?
As an elementary school teacher I am lucky to spend each day exploring and learning alongside my students. In my current role as a substitute teacher I work with students from kindergarten to fifth grade, with each day bringing new joys and challenges. I love teaching the full range of subject areas and finding opportunities to integrate science STEM topics into various studies. It is inspiring to see young students’ capacity to ask big questions and seek out understanding of their surrounding through exploration and play. One of my favorite parts of my job is designing scientific investigations alongside my students, helping to guide their curiosity and learning by developing experiments that test their thinking and utilize the natural world around them.
What sparked your initial interest in your career?
Long before I had even considered being a teacher, I spent summers working as an Seattle Parks and Recreation site coordinator leading a drop-in arts and craft and free lunch program. The experience of developing and leading hands-on activities and experiments for kids over the course of a summer was an enriching experience for me, and being able to do it outside, in the same parks I spent my youth exploring and playing in was especially sweet. I learned a lot about what it takes to create entry points for kids of different ages, and I discovered I thrived when working on the fly developing ways to make learning fun. I was lucky to have the opportunity to have the Seattle Parks as my classroom, and I discovered just how rich it could be to learn and experiment with the environment as our classroom.
Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?
My very first teaching position was in a school chalk-full of incredible mentors, where I was encouraged to be myself and discover through experience what kind of teacher I wanted to be. I was challenged by these mentors to do things most first year teachers would never get the chance to do, all in a supportive environment with an emphasis on growth and collaboration.
What element of your work/study do you think is the most fascinating?
My work as a teacher has brought me across North America, from my home of Seattle, Washington to Mexico, to Boston, MA and now across the Pacific to the Northern Mariana island of Saipan. In each of these places I have been welcomed and encouraged by communities of teachers, administrators, families and students. It never seizes to amaze me just how innovative, creative and endearing a school community can be, and how no matter where you are you can find people in schools working tirelessly for the children of their community.
How did you get involved with the Ocean Exploration Trust?
I applied to by a Science Communication Fellow after learning about the program through a district wide email shared by my organization. I was aware of OET from my experience teaching about deep ocean topics in the past and my interest was immediately sparked by the opportunity to be part of a Nautilus exploration in my new home of the Western Pacific.
What other jobs led you to your current career?
I have been involved in Education for many years but my path to being an elementary classroom teacher was far from a foregone conclusion! Early in my career my interest was in teaching English as a second language abroad, and even before that I considered being a social worker. More recently I have also begun freelance work as a video creator, helping to broaden my skills as a communicator and creator of engaging education materials for a wide student community.
What are your degrees and certifications?
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology - Western Washington University 2017; TESOL Certification -Woodring College of Education; Dual Endorsement Elementary Education and English Language Learners 2021; Residency Teacher Certificate Elementary Education and ELL - Washington State 2021; Masters of Education - Lesley University 2023; Basic I Teacher Certificate - CNMI 2025.
What are your hobbies?
In my free time I enjoy hiking with my two dogs, playing soccer, and reading my book with the sand under my feet. I also love to cook, and have been taking baby steps to become a grill maestro-extraordinaire!
What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?
If you are interested in a career in education I would encourage you to seek out experiences working with youth on topics you are interested in. If you love the outdoors, volunteer to be a nature guide with a local organization, or if you loves sports, try coaching, or if cooking is your passion, there are great organizations working with kids to learn about nutrition and get hands on experience in a kitchen. Working in schools and in the classroom will help you build skills as a teacher and bring you in contact with fantastic mentors, but I believe that having an appreciation for how learning happens in different domains will help you to make connections between teaching and your own passions, helping to guide your growth as an educator in reaching all learners.
