Between serving up treats at a local bakery, clocking in as a student worker in the Dugan Library and playing games with the two little boys she babysits, Kylie Real’s summer schedule is packed.
Yet the Newman University senior sees each as training for her dream career: teaching.
Special scholarship recognition
With a work ethic like Real’s, it’s no surprise that she recently received the 2026 Maud Wyatt Recognition Scholarship, a statewide honor awarded through the Kansas Independent College Association. The scholarship recognizes students nearing graduation who demonstrate excellence in academics, character and integrity.
For Real, the recognition came as both a surprise and an affirmation for the work she puts in every day — all in an effort to better the lives of her future students.
“Knowing only one student from Newman could receive it, I didn’t think it would be me, so I am very grateful for the opportunities this opens up for me to continue growing throughout my upcoming semester of student teaching,” Real said.
She described the honor as “a beautiful gift,” because it shows members of the Newman community recognize her potential, she said.
“Knowing that (they) want to support my education in this way means so much to me because it means that they’re also supporting my future students,” Real said.
The Wichita native transferred to Newman University from Missouri State University in fall 2024. In addition to her jobs and commitment to her studies, Real is also a student-athlete on Newman’s cheer and dance team. She plans to graduate from Newman University this December.
Three jobs with a shared goal
This summer, Real splits her time among three jobs: serving customers at Cottage Crumbs, working at Newman University’s Dugan Library and babysitting in west Wichita. While the jobs may seem unrelated, Real sees a common thread connecting them all.
“Each of my jobs this summer is definitely helping me to become a better teacher in the future,” she said.
At the library, Real uses quiet periods to prepare for the PRAXIS exam before she begins student teaching in August. Her role as a babysitter also allows her to practice skills that will translate seamlessly into her future classroom.
“We do a lot of imaginative, racing, and reading,” Real said. “I think having this time of just having fun and being childlike with them reminds me of why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place — just for the joy of experiencing and learning with kids.”
At Cottage Crumbs, a gluten-free bakery, she handles nearly every aspect of daily operations except baking.
“I frost donuts and cookies, make pizzas, set up our display, manage our online ordering system and make coffees,” she said. “All of this will help me to prioritize well and juggle many different tasks as a teacher.”
Her favorite part, however, is interacting with customers.
“Getting to know each of our regulars and their preferences is basically practice for getting to know each of my future students,” she said.
Transformative opportunities, formation at Newman
Real describes her two years at Newman as “a time of growth.”
Through opportunities that included living in Metanoia — Newman’s on-campus Catholic living community — serving in leadership positions, completing practicum experiences in local schools and spending two months through Newman’s Guatemala Study and Serve program, she said she has grown both personally and professionally.
“I’ve been able to grow as a Catholic, a student, a friend and a leader,” she said.
In addition to her elementary education major with an endorsement in middle school history, Real is a Spanish minor. She received the Excellence in Spanish Study Abroad Award during Newman’s Academic Awards Convocation in April, which honored her commitment to language learning and cultural understanding.
She put her passion for language to work this spring alongside fellow Newman students in the Storytime Village Read & Rise program. Through the partnership, Newman students read children’s books in both English and Spanish to students at Stanley Elementary School — a Wichita school that’s home to many Spanish-speaking families.
Real said the experience reinforced her passion for helping students feel represented and valued.
“I think the most rewarding part of the Rise & Read program was seeing how much bilingual literacy representation meant to all of the kids,” she said. “Every kid we met in those classrooms who spoke Spanish was so excited to hear stories in their own language. Many of the students whose first language is English were excited, too, and they practiced any Spanish words or phrases they knew.”
A community of educators
When she graduates later this year, Real said she will miss many aspects of Newman, especially the relationships she has built.
“I think I will miss the community more than anything,” she said. “Every professor I’ve had class with has shown that they genuinely care about my success, and I love being able to see at least one person I know personally every time I step on campus.”
She credited Associate Professor of Education Huachuan Wen for “helping us to understand the content and methods of teaching while supporting us as we grow in confidence and our love for the profession,” Real said.
Real also praised Assistant Professor of Spanish and Co-Director of Hispanic Initiatives Sonja Bontrager for encouraging deeper cultural understanding.
“Professor Bontrager has challenged me to go beyond my learning of the Spanish language through her encouragement and example of coming to know the people I encounter on a personal level,” she said.
As she prepares for student teaching this fall, Real remains focused on the type of educator she hopes to become.
“My biggest goal as a future teacher is to help all of my students to feel seen, known and loved,” she said. “While it is ultimately going to be my job to educate my students according to the standards set forth by the state, I believe that their identity as humans is far more important than their identity as students.”
Earn an elementary education degree from Newman
Become the educator that transforms the next generation of leaders through Newman University’s elementary education program.
