More Than a Lesson Plan: How Kerry Yates is Shaping Lives One Science Class at a Time
by: Michelle Horton
On any given day inside a classroom at Liberty-Eylau Middle School, you might hear a chant, see students moving from desk to desk, or catch a teacher mid-song explaining a scientific concept. It is not unusual. In fact, it is exactly how Kerry Yates wants it. “I want the kids up and moving, asking questions, making observations, and just being in the moment,” Yates said. “I want every student to know they have a voice and they need to use it.”
That energy, that intentionality, and that heart for students are just a few of the reasons Yates was named a 2026 Teacher of the Year. However, for those who know her best—her students, colleagues, and family—the recognition confirms what they have seen all along.
Yates’ path to Texarkana did not begin in Texas. “The place that I call my hometown is Placerville, California,” she said. “It was a great place to grow up because it was a small town with plenty of Gold Rush history.” Her childhood was filled with adventure—exploring the outdoors, riding horses, and even stumbling upon abandoned gold mines. “Every once in a while, when I visit a friend, we would find abandoned gold mines while exploring their property,” she said. “We would never go in due to safety reasons.”
Raised on five acres with her parents and older sister, Yates describes a life deeply connected to nature and family. She was adopted as an infant, something her mother never kept from her. “My mom never hid the fact that I was,” she said. “The day that I comprehended the fact that I was adopted was when I was 8 years old… I responded, ‘ok, cool, can I go to my friend’s house?’” Her upbringing also came with constant change. By the time she graduated high school, she had attended eleven different schools across multiple states. “It was because of this movement that has really made me adaptable, and able to embrace change and be flexible,” Yates said. “I view these characteristics as strengths in whatever job or school I taught/teach at.”
Yates did not always know she would become a science teacher. In fact, her journey began with a completely different passion. “In my freshman year of high school, I met one of my dearest friends, Dawn,” she said. “She was into sign language, and she would teach me signs on the bus, at lunch, or after school.” That introduction sparked a deeper interest. “Just a couple of signs and the alphabet shown by my best friend started my future in becoming a deaf and hearing-impaired teacher,” Yates said.
Her father, however, had a different vision—one in which she would take over his optometry practice. However, Yates had other plans. “One day at the dinner table, I said that I am interested in becoming a deaf and hearing-impaired teacher,” she recalled. “He would then say to me, if he could have done it all over again, he would have gone into teaching.” That moment mattered. “That was his way of encouraging me and accepting my career choice,” she said.
Her academic path was not perfectly linear. After earning an associate degree and transferring to California State University, Sacramento, she discovered that her chosen major would not lead to the career she had initially planned. “That was a major disappointment at the time,” she said. “But I just sat back and thought about what my favorite subject was at that time.” The answer came easily. “My favorite classes in college were Oceanography, Chemistry, and SCUBA diving,” she said. “So my choice was easy. I then became a Science Teacher for middle school students.”
Now in her 23rd year of teaching, Yates has built a career marked by adaptability, creativity, and a deep commitment to students. “I believe that teaching is not just a profession, it is a calling,” she said. “It is a daily commitment to show up with patience, passion, purpose, and positivity, even on the hardest of days.” Her career has taken her across grade levels, roles, and even states. From California classrooms to Texas school districts, she has taught everything from elementary combination classes to middle school science and social studies. “I really wanted to go back to middle school because that is where my passion is,” she said.
That passion is evident in how she approaches her classroom today. “I can not be the teacher who stands in front of the class lecturing for the entire period,” Yates said. “I would be bored to tears, and that would not be motivating to me.” Instead, she creates an environment where learning is active, engaging, and personal. “I am using total physical response, sign language, songs, and chants in my class to help connect the content. I want my students to remember that Science was a fun class,” she said. “The labs, projects, dances, and songs we did were for them to learn the content.”
Ask Yates what matters most in education, and her answer is immediate. “I believe relationships are the foundation of learning,” she said. “Rigor matters. Data matters. Growth matters. However, none of it happens without trust.” That philosophy shapes everything she does. “When students feel as though they are safe, valued, and capable, they rise to expectations that they once felt impossible,” she said. Yates works intentionally to build that trust from day one. “Since the first day of school, I have always been as transparent with the students,” Yates said. “Transparency helps to grow that trust since I have nothing to hide from them.”
Her impact often extends far beyond the classroom. “My whole life is dedicated to each of my students through the school year,” she said. “I am a person they can come and talk to if they are having a good or bad day.” Sometimes, those connections last a lifetime. She still remembers a student named Hannah from her very first year of teaching. “One day, Hannah came to me and passed me a piece of paper,” Yates said. “The paper was titled ‘Holy Cow Thank you for a great science day!’” Years later, they reconnected. “To this day, we still keep in contact,” Yates said. “I got to see her beautiful wedding pictures from her ceremony in Italy.”
When Yates was named Teacher of the Year, the moment was emotional—and unforgettable. “My reaction was sheer joy and happiness shown with tears,” she said. Called into the hallway by administrators, she was met with a crowd and a surprise announcement. “I think I yelled, covered my face for a moment, uncovered it with tears coming down,” she said.
However, her first instinct was not to celebrate herself. “I told my students that I accepted this award on their behalf because it was due to their hard work,” Yates said. For her, the recognition is deeply meaningful. “This recognition is incredibly affirming,” she said. “Teaching can be demanding and, at times, feel unseen.” She continued, “Being Teacher of the Year validated the countless hours of planning, grading, supporting students, and going the extra mile.”
Yates is quick to point out that her success is not hers alone. “The credit I have to give most for this award is my wonderful husband Ted and my kids Courtney and Clintin,” she said. She described long days and late nights—and the sacrifices her family made along the way. “Without their love and support, I would not be the teacher that I am today,” she said.
She also carries the influence of family members she has lost. “I hear my mom’s kind words to me when I got my first F in science class,” she said. “‘It is ok, you just need to try harder next time.’” Her father’s advice stayed with her, too. “He said to me that I need to finish college so that I do not have to rely on anyone,” she said. “Dad, I did just that!”
Like many educators, Yates acknowledges the growing demands of the profession. “The biggest challenge educators face right now is workload stress,” she said. “We have so many items on our plates that it sometimes feels impossible.” Still, her approach remains grounded. “One project at a time!” she said. “I ask for help if I cannot do it.” Despite the challenges, her passion has not faded. “I love teaching!!” she said. “Every single day is a new day and can end a million different ways.” She added, “I have never thought once this year, ‘oh man, I have to go to work today.’”
Instead, her mindset is simple—and powerful. “Yes, I get to go to work today,” she said. “I want to be the teacher to make someone… smile today.”
Nearly six years ago, Yates and her husband made the move to Northeast Texas—a decision she now describes with certainty. “My husband and I have lived in North East Texas now for almost six years, and I could not be happier,” she said. “We should have done this 20 years ago.” Today, Texarkana feels like home. “I love the fact that I can go into a store and students, friends, co-workers will stop and say hi,” she said. “It just makes us a part of something bigger.”
Furthermore, she is not done making an impact. “I do have hopes in getting people, families, and businesses more involved with Liberty Eylau Middle School,” Yates said. “Keep your eyes and ears open, you may see one of my ideas coalesce.”
At the heart of Kerry Yates’ story is something deeper than awards, accolades, or even years of experience. It is a belief—steady and unwavering—that every student matters. “Teaching requires heart and grit,” she said. “It requires seeing potential before a student sees it in themselves and holding that vision steady until they believe it too.”
In a classroom filled with movement, laughter, and the occasional science song, that belief comes to life every day. For the students lucky enough to walk through her door, it is a lesson they will not soon forget.