Just A Small Town Girl: The Inspirational Story Of Lindsay Yates

We all know how the song goes, “Just a small town girl…..Don’t Stop Believing”.  Lindsay Yates was fortunate growing up in Sigourney to have the landscape of a small town but parents that exposed her to experiences and opportunity outside of the small town comfort zone.  While growing up, her parents always pushed her and her  brothers to work hard, try their best and make the world a better place.  After high school, Lindsay went to Iowa State to do just that. “I began my college career in Psychology, thinking the best way to make the world a little bit better would be to help others work through life’s challenges.  It was after I had my daughter, Riese, that I realized I wanted to teach, and that education could be my avenue to make the largest impact on the world. “ 

After Iowa State, Yates immediately moved down to Kansas City where she taught for three years in a low income public school.  With a strong belief in educational choice, she ventured into the charter school world, teaching math and science at  Scuola Vita Nuova, a low income charter school in Northeast Kansas City.  While at SVN, Yates earned her Master’s Degree in School Administration from the University of Central Missouri and also became certified in the area of Special Education. At that time she began working at the Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a new charter school in Kansas City, as a Learning Support Specialist.  There Yates continued to fulfill her passion of teaching and later had the opportunity to begin her administrative career, supporting students and teachers as the Dean of Students.

Last year, during the 2015-2016 school year, Yates was hired by Crossroads Academy, the highest ranked charter school in the state of Missouri, as the new school Principal, tasked with the awesome responsibility of dreaming and developing Quality Hill Academy, a new K-8 charter school in Kansas City!

 Last week, Quality Hill Academy opened with 186 students grade K-3 and will eventually grow to have 422 students K-8. The school focuses on a co-teaching model, with 44 students and multiple teachers in each classroom. The school is 1:1 with technology, focusing on project based and blended learning, making education fit each student and their unique needs.  As a public charter school, Quality Hill receives funds much like a traditional public school, however with our low student to teacher ratio, we do additional fundraising to support those structures that are best for kids.

To Sigourney students and future graduates Lindsay leaves behind these words, “Dream big and never give up!  Regardless of what anyone says, hard work and perseverance pay off.  Have I ever wanted to give up?  Absolutely.  In fact after having my daughter I had a former teacher of mine advised me to move home and take a use the support of my parents, that it would be too hard for me to finish school.  I chose differently and I am sure glad I did!  From that moment I knew education was my platform to support every student that walked through my doors!  I am beyond proud to say that I made it, and I encourage every dreamer out there to do the same! “