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.

• Learn more about Avila’s School of Education

Avila is proud to announce another milestone in the university’s commitment to excellence in education – an announcement that will shape the future of Avila’s undergraduate and graduate programs. The (AAQEP) has awarded full 7-year accreditation to the educator preparation programs at º£½ÇÖ±²¥.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has secured a 7-year accreditation with the prestigious Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

For several months a team from AAQEP came to campus for a visit. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners engaged in spirited conversations, sharing the essence of Avila’s education programs. That visit was one part of a larger conversation that culminated in a meeting with the commissioners. The Avila team, made up of The School of Education faculty, Dr. Fatima Gines, Dr. Stacy Keith, and Dr. Darin Smith were acknowledged for their invaluable contributions.  The team demonstrated the university’s commitment to excellence during the entire process which consisted of several steps.

After reviewing the evidence collected through a process of self-study and peer review, the AAQEP Accreditation Commission issued the decision at its December 5 meeting. The Commission’s action affirms that the programs meet all four AAQEP standards:

1. Candidate/Completer Performance: Program completers perform as professional educators with the capacity to support success for all learners.
2. Completer Professional Competence and Growth: Program completers adapt to working in a variety of contexts and grow as professionals.
3. Quality Program Practices: The program has the capacity to ensure that its completers meet Standards 1 and 2.
4. Program Engagement in System Improvement: Program practices strengthen the P-20 education system in light of local needs and in keeping with the program’s mission.

National accreditation assures the quality of professional preparation programs through a nongovernmental, nonregulatory process of self-study and peer review. This standards- and evidence-based process serves two broad aims: accountability and continuous improvement. The AAQEP model is also designed to honor local context and foster innovation and collaboration among institutions. AAQEP currently has members in 37 states and other jurisdictions with over 190 educator preparation providers participating in the accreditation system.

This achievement marks more than just a triumph; it signals a transition. Avila has seamlessly shifted from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) to the esteemed AAQEP. A shift that will reflect the university’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of educational quality.

In the aftermath of this victory, expressions of gratitude echoed across the academic landscape as many faculty and staff made this happen. These efforts were led by Dr. Angela Danley, Interim Chair, Director of Clinical and Field Based Experiences for the School of Education.   ” ‘Work hard in silence and let success be the noise’ would sum up the feeling of earning AAQEP accreditation,â€� states Danley. “The School of Education faculty and staff were working towards the accreditation visit before I started in August 2022. When asked to step in as Interim Chair for this academic year and lead the accreditation work, I knew this was no small task. During the past several months, my focus remained on the students in K-12 schools and how they deserve the best teacher. Successfully earning the seven-year AAQEP accreditation represents the hard work and dedication of the faculty and staff in preparing highly qualified teachers to go forward and teach.â€�

Dr. Angela Danley, Interim Chair is in her 28^th year in education.  And, her roots go deep with Avila as she is a ’96 alum from Avila’s School of Education undergraduate special education and elementary program.   Danley’s experience in PK-12 schools includes serving as a special education teacher, classroom teacher, and instructional coach. She served as an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator in Early Child and Elementary Education at the University of Central Missouri prior to accepting her position as Director of Clinical and Field Based Experiences in August 2022.  ” I always knew I wanted to serve at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ so I could make an impact on the students and the community. Earning AAQEP accreditation is just one way that I have fulfilled this goal.” 

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º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is a private university in Kansas City, Missouri. The school strives to be a university of access, providing education without limits to students across all stages of their education journey. Incorporating the founding principles developed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, students receive a well-rounded liberal arts education. Avila has over 54 academic programs to choose from, small class size and 100% of first-year students serve in the community.

About AAQEP

Founded in 2017, AAQEP is a membership association and quality assurance agency that provides accreditation services and formative support to all types of educator preparation providers. The organization promotes excellent, effective, and innovative educator preparation that is committed to evidence-based improvement in a collaborative professional environment. AAQEP is nationally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Visit for more information.

Dr. Angela Danley, Interim Chair is in her 28^th year in education.  Dr. Danley is a ’96 alum from Avila’s School of Education undergraduate special education and elementary program.   Her experience in PK-12 schools includes serving as a special education teacher, classroom teacher, and instructional coach. She served as an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator in Early Child and Elementary Education at the University of Central Missouri prior to accepting her position as Director of Clinical and Field Based Experiences in August 2022.  ” I always knew I wanted to serve at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ so I could make an impact on the students and the community. Earning AAQEP accreditation is just one way that I have fulfilled this goal.” 

The five students awarded are:

• Emily Garrido-Calva
• Karley Gutierrez   
• Adriana Puentes
• Jade Valdez
• Ka’Zem Wood 

“We are fortunate to have received grant money to support our Latinx students and encourage and excite them about the teaching profession.  I had the privilege of notifying several of our grant winners, and each student reacted to the news with excitement, and enthusiasm, and reported that this would help dedicate them to their studies and their dedication to become a teacher.  We look forward to the impact these students will make in their communities,� said Natalie Cobb, Ed.D., chair of the School of Education.

“Avila’s hope is that through this grant, we can bring more diversity to the teaching profession and provide a unique path for members of the Latinx community specifically, who may otherwise not be able to complete a teaching degree,â€� said Stacy Keith, Ed.D., vice president for academic affairs. “We believe this partnership will enrich our program by adding more diverse perspectives and voices and provide more opportunities for K-12 students to have teachers that better represent their communities.â€� 

According to the LEC, Emerging data shows that educational outcomes improve when students are exposed to diverse teaching staff. While 25% of K-12 students across the country identify as Latinx, only 8% of educators do; the LEC wants to close that gap.

“For any partnership to be successful, it must benefit and provide opportunities for students,â€� said º£½ÇÖ±²¥ President Jim Burkee, Ph.D. “The missions of KTA and Avila are similar. We both seek to improve student access to high-quality, affordable, higher education and student success.â€�

KTA is a leading facilitator of graduate education programing at partner universities by focusing on relationship building across 5,499 local school districts in 23 states, including Missouri and Kansas. “At KTA, we always strive to find the best possible partner to help us meet the needs of teachers in a state. º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has excellent programs and a commitment to being the most competitive university in Missouri,â€� said KTA President Bruce Ranney. “We are excited about the vision Dr. Burkee and the leadership team at Avila have developed and their commitment to meeting the needs of teachers with new program development, reducing their tuition to a more competitive level, and working to have the most student-centric admissions process possible.â€�

Avila’s 107-year history of providing personal engagement and experiential learning is at the forefront of these online Master’s of Art Education programs. Students can expect to receive the benefits of private education at an affordable price and with the flexibility they seek.

The three new education programs

• M.A.Ed. – Educational Leadership with Principal Certification
• M.A.Ed. – Special Reading with Certification
• M.A.Ed. – K-12 School Counselor with Certification

as well as º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s established programs

• Initial Teacher Certification
• M.A.Ed. – Curriculum & Instruction

are all accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Missouri State Education Department. Avila’s education programs offer a flexible, online format and are taught by academically and professionally qualified instructors who are invested in their students’ success.

“The instructors teaching these classes have real-life experience in these areas of study and can share the application of practice every time they engage with a student,â€� said º£½ÇÖ±²¥ School of Education Chair Natalie Cobb, Ed.D. “Our online courses are built on an expectation of quality and substantive levels of engagement with students from recorded lectures, visual feedback, virtual office hours, and arranged one-on-one mentoring of students during each class.â€�

Avila’s online Master’s of Art Education graduate programs emphasize experiential learning with multiple start dates throughout the year. Learning is self-paced to accommodate busy schedules, with around-the-clock access to asynchronous courses.

For more information or to apply for these programs, please visit 

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About K-12 Teachers Alliance

The K-12 Teachers Alliance partners with non-profit, fully accredited colleges and universities across the country to provide primarily graduate programs to current or potential K-12 educators. Through their array of services, KTA delivers partner institutions both brand and education program awareness in the K-12 community. This exposure typically results in controlled enrollment growth for partner institutions and helps accomplish their mission by meeting the needs of local teachers by providing relevant, well-respected graduate programs to local educators.

“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.