Khyla Smith is a 2025-2026 Teach Plus Illinois Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellow. She is an Instructional Coach for Early Childhood Education, which is a Head Start Program for ages 3-5 in the Kankakee School District in Kankakee, Illinois. Khyla focuses on strengthening coaching practices to support educators’ professional growth and advance equitable student learning outcomes through effective advocacy and policy understanding. In addition, she is a Teacher Coach and Site Supervisor. Khyla earned her BS in early childhood education with a minor in family studies from Chicago State University, and her MA in education, with a focus on curriculum and instruction and minor in leadership, from Concordia Portland University.
