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By: Sabrina Miller, Content Strategy Director

BALTIMORE, Md. � For Dr. Kyler Leiter D�25, the path to early childhood education didn�t begin in a classroom�it started in a newsroom. While working as a television news producer at night, he spent his days caring for a friend young child, an experience that unexpectedly sparked his passion for teaching. Today, the pre-K educator has earned the 2026 Charles E. Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award, one of Frederick County Public Schools highest honors recognizing exceptional educators who are making a lasting difference in the lives of young people.  
 
A graduate of the  at �����鶹 (�����鶹), Dr. Leiter has an approach to teaching that is rooted in a simple but powerful belief�play is essential to learning. Early in his career, he noticed a troubling shift away from play-based learning in early childhood classrooms, along with rising behavioral challenges. Determined to better understand and advocate for his students, he pursued a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations at �����鶹, deepening his expertise in equity, research, and student-centered learning. 
 
At �����鶹, Dr. Leiter found both the academic foundation and personal support to deepen his work. Faculty mentors like Dr. Molly Dunn, associate professor, challenged him to think critically and push his research further. Experiences like a weekend wellness retreat introduced practices he now incorporates into his classroom, including mindfulness and movement exercises to help young learners self-regulate. 

His doctoral research on play-based pedagogy and equity in early childhood education has not only shaped his own classroom, but is also influencing broader conversations in the field. Dr. Leiter has presented his work nationally and internationally, advocating for developmentally appropriate learning environments and helping to bring greater attention to the importance of play in schools. 

Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Leiter credits �����鶹 with strengthening his ability to translate research into practice�an impact he sees every day in his classroom. �As a reflective practitioner, I�m constantly refining my approach to meet my students� needs,� he said. 

Looking ahead, Dr. Leiter hopes to expand his influence through higher education and policy, continuing to champion young learners and the educators who support them. His long-term goal: to open a local play museum, further reinforcing his belief that meaningful learning begins with curiosity, creativity, and play.

Established in 1895, �����鶹is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.