News & Events

Kaitlin Tyler '07 returns to our Norfolk Academy family as a Lower School EDI Teacher and Math Teaching Associate for Fourth and Fifth Grade. After graduating from NA, Mrs. Tyler earned a B.A. in elementary education and art/art history from the College of William & Mary and an M.Ed. in education leadership, K-8 math specialist, from George Mason University. She taught fourth grade in Fairfax County Public Schools for three years before becoming a K-5 STEAM specialist and Singapore Math teacher at Trinity Christian School, a K-12 private school in Fairfax. After returning to Virginia Beach, she enjoyed staying home with her young sons while tutoring math and teaching Tinkergarten, a program of outdoor learning for young children.

To help you better get to know NA's new faculty, each of them answered a few questions about their careers and interests.

Why become a teacher?

I did not always know I wanted to be a teacher. I switched my career plans during my second year at William & Mary when I realized that everything I enjoyed was centered around children. After my first day in the School of Education, I felt that fire inside of me ignite when I thought about the lives I could touch through a career in education. I am a 12-year thriver of Norfolk Academy, starting in Mrs. Murray’s 1GB Kangaroos. Norfolk Academy instilled a lifelong love of learning and desire to serve my community. I always admired my teachers for going above and beyond to build relationships with me and support my passions. From Mrs. Klewans who let me come in her room after class to check our silk worms and ask what was probably 1,000 questions daily, to Mr. Poole who helped me start a Locker Club to build wooden shelves for all the Middle School lockers, to Mrs. Hollowell who always championed me to use my creative writing voice. Every one of my teachers made me the educator I am today. I am passionate about bringing inquiry-based learning and student voices at the center of my classroom. I love helping my students gain understanding in a way that excites them to take ownership of their educational journey!

What excites you about Norfolk Academy?

Norfolk Academy has become my lifelong family, and I feel honored to be back here as a faculty member. Teaching at a first through 12th grade campus creates a broader sense of togetherness and community that you do not find at other schools. All three divisions support each other to ensure our students are valued from the moment their pat the Bulldog in first grade to the time they receive their diploma. I look forward to cheering on my students for years to come!

Favorite activity?

I love anything outside! My family spends as much time as we can on the beach no matter the season, and we love to hike, bike, and explore nature. You will often find us riding around the oceanfront or running on the beach with our three dogs.

One fun fact about you students might find interesting?

I married my Bulldog high school sweetheart. Together we have traveled the world including hiking Patagonia twice—both in Argentina and Chile. We hope to take our two sons to Chile to hike the W trail in Torres del Paine when they get a little older.