Meet Mainland High School's Teacher of the Year

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Kallie Walker teaches in the very halls she used to frequent as a student.

A 2007 Mainland High School alumna, Walker prefers to "fly under the radar." When she found out she had been nominated for Teacher of the Year, it was humbling and overwhelming. But as a former Buccaneer, she said she's honored to be representing her alma matter.

Walker was in seventh grade when she was introduced to the educator who she said was one of the most inspirational teachers she ever had: Coach Marcy Tyner, her physical education teacher.

"It was clear that she was excited and delighted to have the opportunity to teach us the entire year," Walker said. "Seeing her passion and enthusiasm about physical education inspired me to be the best student I could be in her class. This was the moment in my life where I knew that I wanted to be an educator; being able to get students excited about learning and allowing them to explore new things is what being an educator is truly about."

Walker, who currently teaches a ninth grade class in Mainland's Academy of Scientific Inquiry and Medicine, Medical Skills and Services, as well as an athletic training directed study class in the school's Sport Science Academy, earned her bachelor's degree in athletic training from the University of North Florida and her master's in health and physical education from Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Her favorite thing about teaching is meeting new students each yer and watching them grow. She also loves having fun inside jokes.

If she could share one piece of wisdom, it would be to never stop trying to be the best student and person you can be.

'Being an overachiever is a good thing," Walker said. "One of my favorite teachers, and coach, says it perfectly when he addresses his football team: 'If you want to end up different than others later, you must do things different than those now.'”