Voices of ZCS:
Kylie Staples on Building Confidence and Culture
Spanish teacher Kylie Staples brings energy, connection, and culture into every class at Zionsville West Middle School. Recently named Indiana’s Spanish Teacher of the Year, Staples shares how her journey began, what inspires her, and why she believes language learning matters, especially during the middle school years.
In this Voices of ZCS video conversation, she reflects on student joy and the power of helping kids see the world beyond their classroom walls.
Zionsville West Middle School Spanish Teacher Kylie Staples sits down for a conversation with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman
Language, Culture, and Joy
The Teacher Who Turns Language into Belonging
Zionsville West Middle School’s Kylie Staples shares her journey, her impact, and why the middle school years matter.
Some teachers enter education certain of their path. For Kylie Staples, Spanish teacher at Zionsville West Middle School, the path was unexpected.
“Education wasn’t my first plan,” she explains. “I actually started out thinking I’d go pre-med because my sister is a doctor.”
But a high school exchange program changed everything. Traveling to Spain for several months, speaking only Spanish, awakened not just her love for language, but her desire to help others experience the world beyond the classroom. It turned a teenager’s school travel program into a professional calling.
At Zionsville West Middle School, Staples has become a trusted role model for colleagues and someone who offers encouragement for students. Her positive influence doesn’t go unnoticed. She credits fellow educator Ellen Jenkins as a mentor, calling her “a rock” who can “help you through anything.”
Now, Staples pays that forward, mentoring new teachers, listening, advocating, and helping colleagues feel supported.
“Being the ear that people need is really important,” she says.
Recently, her dedication reached beyond Zionsville Community Schools. Staples was named Spanish Teacher of the Year for the State of Indiana, recognized for her innovative language approaches and the enrichment experiences she builds for students.
“Someone nominated me, and they asked me to send in a CV. It felt strange putting everything on paper, but it was really exciting.”
For Staples, making students feel safe, valued, and curious is her priority. She greets every student at the doorway with a spoken password, a fun moment, but also her way of checking in with each student.
“Comfort is really important to me,” she says. “I want them to enjoy learning language.”
Learning a language, she believes, is more than words. It’s connection. It’s opening doors. It’s preparing students to navigate an increasingly global world. She brings her travel experiences to life through photos, virtual tours, and cultural celebrations, complete with crafts, cooking, and activities students never forget.
“Middle schoolers are the best,” she smiles. “They’re willing to try anything.”
She values Zionsville’s investment in world language at the middle level, an advantage some districts don’t have.
“The younger a student starts, the better they keep the language,” she explains.
The joy of the classroom goes both ways. Whether students are laughing in the hallways on a gloomy Monday morning, turning lessons into hands-on fun, or proudly sharing that they tried speaking Spanish while traveling, Staples finds purpose in every small moment.
“When they feel comfortable coming to me, that means everything,” she says.
Staples sees language as a way to build belonging, not just sentences. And that’s why she continues to inspire, encourage, and expand students’ view of the world, one classroom connection at a time.
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."
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