About
From Carroll to the Classroom: Finding Home, Purpose and a Passion for Literacy
When Kyla Grose ’08 arrived at Carroll College, she was continuing a family connection to the College. Both of her parents, Dennis (‘75) and Geri Welsh-Grose (‘80), are also proud Carroll graduates. Kyla would go on to create a Carroll story of her own—one filled with friendships, service, Saints football, influential mentors and experiences that helped shape the educator she is today.
Kyla graduated from Carroll in 2008 with a degree in Elementary Education. During her time on campus, she was involved with Campus Ministry, taught second-grade religious education at St. Helena Cathedral, volunteered at the Florence Crittenton Home and spent a year on the Carroll Dance Team. She also held work-study positions in the Carroll Mail Room and at the O’Connell Hall switchboard.
“If you called Carroll from 2004–2008, you most likely talked to me to have your call transferred!” she remembers.
Her favorite Carroll memories are a mix of the big and the wonderfully ordinary: crisp fall afternoons cheering on the national champion Fighting Saints, study sessions at Firetower Coffee, time with friends at the Brewhouse and the annual St. Nicholas Day tradition in the residence halls. She also remembers receiving care packages from her parents during finals week.
But some of Kyla’s most lasting memories came from the people who influenced her, particularly Dr. Hardwick and Lois Fitzpatrick.
“Every time I choose a book to read to my kindergarten class, I always think of Lois and hope that she is watching down on me, seeing the passion for literacy I didn’t know I had,” Kyla says. “Dr. Hardwick showed me that perseverance and patience will get you far in life, and he inspires me, to this day, to stop and smell the roses and appreciate every little thing you can.”
Finding Home in Troy
In 2010, Kyla accepted an elementary teaching position in Troy, Montana, in the far northwest corner of the state. She thought it would be a stepping stone—a chance to gain experience before eventually moving back closer to her hometown of Butte.
Instead, Troy became home.
More than 16 years later, Kyla has built a life, career and deep connection to the community. She currently teaches kindergarten at Troy Public Schools after previously teaching second grade, third grade and special education.
Her time in special education proved especially valuable when she moved into kindergarten, giving her tools to support students not only academically but also with their social and emotional development.
Kindergarten also sparked a new professional passion: literacy.
As Kyla watched her youngest students begin building the foundations of reading, she realized she wanted to understand the process at a deeper level. She returned to school and, in 2025, graduated with a 4.0 from Grand Canyon University, earning a Master of Education in Elementary Reading with an emphasis in Literacy.
“It was truly the best thing I have ever done for my career,” she says.
For Kyla, the reward of teaching comes in the transformation that happens during those first years of school.
A child may enter her classroom unable to read, write, add or subtract. Then the pieces slowly begin to come together. By December, students are reading and writing. Their handwriting becomes more controlled. Their confidence grows. And by June, Kyla watches a group of increasingly independent young people leave her classroom.
“You stop and think: Holy cow, I did that, we did that, THEY did that!” she says. “It’s so emotional!”
Making a Difference Beyond the Classroom
Kyla’s commitment to young people extends well beyond the school day.
She serves on the Troy Parks District Board, helping organize youth sports and fundraising for opportunities that allow local children to become involved in the arts. She is also an avid bowler, competing in several leagues and serving on the Montana United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors. From 2011–2023, she also served as an MOA volleyball official before stepping away to focus on graduate school.
Living in a small town, she says, has given her the opportunity to become part of the community in ways she never anticipated when she first moved to Troy.
And when she isn't teaching, volunteering or bowling, Kyla loves to travel. She and her boyfriend, Doug, have set a goal of visiting all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums. So far, they have eight down and 22 to go. She also hopes to someday travel abroad with her parents, with Scotland and Rome high on the list.
A Carroll Foundation
Looking back, Kyla says Carroll prepared her for much more than her first teaching job.
“Of course, I learned a lot academically, but I also learned how important relationships are,” she says. “The professors who took the time to know me, challenge me and encourage me had a lasting impact on me.”
That lesson now shapes the way she approaches her own students.
“Every day, I’m reminded that teaching isn’t just about what you know—it’s about connecting with people, being patient, being willing to learn and figuring out what each individual student needs. Carroll gave me the foundation to become an educator, but it also helped me become the kind of person and teacher I want to be.”
Her advice for today’s Carroll students reflects that same philosophy: Give yourself time to discover who you are.
“It is OK to not know the second you step foot on a college campus,” Kyla says. “Take a plethora of classes to find your passions. Reach out to your professors so they can help you find pathways to your destiny. Your time in college is for self-exploration—to find your true self. Take chances, make new friends, find something that speaks to you.”
And perhaps most importantly:
“Always know that no matter what happens in college—the best is yet to come.”
