Sixta earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and her Master of Science in Education from º£½ÇÖ±²¥. She also completed minors in Anthropology, Theology, and Secondary Education with a History emphasis.

At Ruskin High School, she serves as Social Studies Department Chair, ACT Test Coordinator, and sponsor for the National Honor Society, Student Council, and Upward Bound.

Reflecting on her teaching journey, Sixta shared:

“My most meaningful accomplishment isn’t tied to a program I created or a lesson I delivered; it’s found in the former students who return to say I helped them believe in themselves. Some tell me I gave them the confidence to speak up. Others say they found their voice in my classroom. That kind of transformation and that spark of self-belief is the core of what we do as educators.�

Commissioner of Education Dr. Karla Eslinger praised Sixta’s impact, stating:

“No one person has a greater impact on the success of our children than the teacher who creates the learning environment. Sixta is a wonderful example of excellence. We are grateful for Sixta and all our educators for making a lasting impact on Missouri students beyond the time in the classroom.�

Known for her immersive simulations and civic-focused instruction, Sixta empowers students to explore history, justice, and public policy through meaningful inquiry. She will be honored during DESE’s Teacher of the Year recognition event in Columbia on October 27, 2025, and will represent Missouri in the National Teacher of the Year program.

Avila celebrates Kimberly’s remarkable achievement and the lifelong impact she continues to make on her students and community.

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“The program’s requirements and expectations are very clearly outlined, which is helpful and reassuring.â€�

“I was aware of the exceptional reputation that Avila has and was confident that obtaining my degree from Avila would make me a more competitive teaching candidate for hire.�

Burham graduated in 2019 with her Master of Arts in Education and now teaches Social Studies at Grandview High School.

How did Avila prepare you for your career?

The program at Avila was incredibly thorough and well-developed. I felt it truly prepared me for my career in education. The courses are centered around highly essential topics in education. The effectiveness of the program in preparing me for the classroom was tested when I was hired at semester in an emergency situation and had to forgo my student teaching experience. I am very fortunate that the school was confident enough to take a chance on me without a student teaching experience and remain grateful for the professors at Avila who ensured that I was ready. 

I wholeheartedly believe that the professors at Avila played a huge role in my success in the classroom. The class sizes are small with high-quality instruction. The faculty demonstrates a high level of care and interest in student success.

What professional goals do you have in the future? How has your Avila education prepared you to pursue those?

I want to revolutionize education and make the high school experience more relevant and meaningful to the lives of all students. I have created and implemented two new courses at Grandview High school that promote real-world learning and are designed to extend maximum autonomy to students. I hope to continue to design and teach classes that provide engaging and rigorous learning experiences for students that allow them to develop skills that will ensure their success in high school and beyond.

I am passionate about creating a learning environment that allows students to have a choice and voice and a platform to initiate change both in school and throughout the community. 

I am currently in the last year of my Educational Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership. I plan to continue to teach on the secondary level while making efforts to bring more innovative approaches to instruction to our school. I am on two leadership committees in the district; the Building Leadership Team and Pathway Lead. I am also the head coach of the girl’s swim team.

Who at Avila did you form good relationships with during your studies? How did they assist you?

Natalie Cobb, Ed.D. – Outstanding educator who further inspired me to be a teacher. She assisted me in numerous ways throughout the program and ensured I was fully prepared for the classroom. She is very positive and kind and made learning fun and memorable. I appreciated her assurances through the most challenging phases of the program.

Stacy Keith, Ed.D. – An exemplary professor who exhibits the utmost passion and energy for teaching. She is one of the most skilled educators that I have observed. She models how instruction should look and makes all efforts to build and foster relationships with students. She maintains very high expectations while providing the support needed to fulfill them. 

Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D. – To date, Dr. McCalley’s classes remain among my favorite ever. I learned so much about learning theories, which influenced my instruction and philosophy of education. I also was beyond appreciative of the detailed individualized feedback that she provided on every assignment. She is truly an expert in her content and craft.

Cory Roup – Outstanding advisor who patiently and seamlessly assisted me in the admissions process. I greatly appreciate the relief that all courses, program requirements, and transfers are done with the support of a knowledgeable advisor.

Alicia Murillo – Ms. Murillo was extremely helpful in supporting me throughout the program and ensuring that I completed all required components to receive my teaching certification. Avila has an amazing support team for their students and Ms. Murillo is a huge part of that.

“Avila was the only school in the KC metro area where I could gain state certification and use those credits to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education.â€�

Why was Avila and their master’s program the right fit for you?

I was looking for a program that would provide real-world experience in teaching, along with courses that would be relevant and impactful to my career. After completing the Graduate Initial Teaching Certification Program at Avila, I decided that it would be beneficial to continue my learning and pursue my Master of Arts in Education. 

I knew that the program was going to be worthwhile; the classes are small enough where the instruction seems personalized and relevant, the professors are all knowledgeable and great to work with, and I felt as if every class I took was going to help me succeed as a teacher.

How did Avila prepare you for your career?

The professors are very understanding and want you to succeed! I’ve been able to use professors as references and for networking; I found my current job because of the professors at Avila.

What professional goals do you have in the future? How has your Avila education prepared you to pursue those?

Earning my MAEd will allow me to pursue a career in Education, as I hope to grow my teaching career into curriculum development, advocating for fine arts in school districts. I feel confident and prepared for this journey, as I’ve had classes ranging from curriculum development to teacher leadership. Completing this Master’s Degree from º£½ÇÖ±²¥ excites me for my future goals.

Who at Avila (faculty or staff) did you form good relationships with during your studies? How did they assist you?

Dr.(Natalie) Cobb taught the first class I ever attended at Avila. It was in that class that I got a sense of the Avila Education Department culture and knew I was going to enjoy it. Dr. Cobb has since been a source of encouragement and professional help.

I wasn’t nervous about the idea of teaching. I had wanted to teach since I was in 2nd grade, but didn’t know the best avenue to get there. I fell in love with art in college and knew that was something I wanted to do. Avila allowed me to merge my love of art and teaching into one career.

Dr. Cobb was very encouraging during that first class and beyond. My lessons/assessments/projects that I turned in for that class were always met with compliments and encouragement. Whenever I saw Dr. Cobb at a meeting or in another class, she’d always ask about my art and mention that her kids still remembered me. That kind of personal connection gave me confidence that I could teach art.

“When I decided to make a switch to be an educator, I knew I wanted to find an accredited, rigorous program with a strong reputation that would help successfully prepare me to be a great teacher,” said Collins.

Now a middle school teacher in the Olathe (Kansas) Public School District, Collins teaches literacy and journalism to sixth through eighth-graders. “I would not be the teacher I am today without my experience at Avila.”

Congratulations on your 2020 Kansas Horizon Award!

Thank you! Now that I am in the middle of my fourth year of teaching, I know that teaching is definitely the career for me thanks to my Avila roots. I was lucky enough to earn the award in 2020. Only 32 new educators earn this award in the entire state of Kansas. This award not only validated my career switch but also showed me the value of my Master’s degree and everything I learned at Avila.  

(The is a Kansas State Department of Education program that identifies and recognizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state).

What’s next for you?

 I plan to be a classroom teacher for a couple of more years. I plan to get certified in ELL (English-Language Learner) teaching and become an ELL teacher within my school district.

What made Avila’s Master’s of Education program special to you? 

I formed many good relationships with Avila’s faculty and staff. Dr. Natalie Cobb was my student teaching advisor during my time in the teacher certification program. She wrote numerous letters of recommendation to help me land my first teaching job. She also wrote a short essay about my teaching abilities for my Kansas Horizon Award. Dr. Sue Ellen Mccalley taught me more about the science of learning than I ever could have imagined. Even though I graduated a couple of years ago, I still refer to my notes from her course. Cory Roup was an excellent advisor who helped me graduate quickly.

I was lucky to have only great experiences with all of my professors.