Kyla Kinzler joined the Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) faculty in 2025 as an Associate Professor in the School of Education. She teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate education courses and serves as the freshman advisor for students pursuing a Liberal Studies – Teacher Education major. Professor Kinzler also spent a semester as the Transition Teacher at PLNU’s Early Childhood Learning Center and remains actively connected to the community as a regular guest reader.
Prior to joining PLNU, Professor Kinzler dedicated more than 30 years to elementary education in Santa Barbara, California. She taught at both El Camino Elementary School and Hope Elementary School, where she served in a variety of roles supporting student learning and teacher development. Her extensive classroom experience informs her teaching, as she brings both practical expertise and a deep passion for helping future educators reach and teach all students.
Professor Kinzler is deeply committed to integrating faith and learning in her teaching. She encourages future educators to view their work as a calling, grounded in the belief that every student is created with purpose and dignity. Through her courses, she emphasizes compassion, service, and the transformative power of education to impact individuals and communities for the greater good.
Professor Kinzler earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University and her Master of Arts in Elementary Reading from Grand Canyon University. She holds a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential as well as a Clear Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate. She and her husband, James, along with their two children, are all proud PLNU alumni.
Education
- M.A., Grand Canyon University
- Clear Credential Coursework, University of California at Santa Barbara
- B.A., Point Loma Nazarene University
Courses Taught
- Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing - EDU4010/6010
- Introduction to Educational Psychology and Learning Theories - EDU3002
- Interdisciplinary Approaches To Teaching Content Areas - EDU4022
Experience in Field
- Teacher on Special Assignment for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Chronic Absenteeism, El Camino Elementary
- Learning Center Teacher for Reading Intervention and Assessment Data, El Camino Elementary
- Learning Center Certificated Tutor, El Camino Elementary
- K-6 Science Specialist, El Camino Elementary
- 6th Grade Teacher, Hope School
- K-6 Substitute Teacher, Goleta, Hope, and Santa Barbara School Districts
Professional and Community Involvement
- Children’s Ministries volunteer
- Parenting Workshop presenter
