A photograph on Amanda KIssell’s employee identification badge always stays close to her heart, both literally and metaphorically. The picture attached to the lanyard around her neck is of a former student who has since passed away.  The photo not only makes her smile as she recollects the child’s time in her classroom, but it also reminds her daily why the work of an early-childhood educator is so important. The tiny and inquisitive children in her preschool classroom at Quail Hollow Elementary want to show love and be loved in return. And their little minds love learning when it seems like a game. At first glance, it might look like the preschoolers are simply playing as they shape colorful dough. But as the children sit on the floor and interact with their beloved teacher and fellow students, it’s clear that “Miss Manda,” as Kissell is called, is teaching foundational skills that will prepare the students for kindergarten and beyond. “Our son was only saying a few words when he entered her class at 3 years old,” said one Quail Hollow parent. “By the time he left her class in 2024 and entered kindergarten this fall, he was caught up to his peers in his speech, reading on his own, and loving numbers. He had met or exceeded all his goals and was able to be exited from special education. Because of Early Intervention and Miss Manda’s amazing teaching, he entered kindergarten with confidence and the academic skills to be successful.” Families not only gush about Kissell’s positive impact on Quail Hollow students but are in awe at her ability to make every parent feel supported and seen. “Being a parent is so hard to begin with. When you add to that the difficulty of having a child who might be struggling in their growth, then parenthood” becomes a big challenge, one parent wrote in a nomination for Kissell for the Preschool Teacher of the Year honor.  “You feel lost, you feel confused, and guilty that you child is falling behind or struggling … I would say this was me this past year, but what has helped me keep moving forward is the constant support that Miss Amanda Kissell has shown my child and my family.”  It’s for these reasons, and many more, that the Canyons Board of Education and Administration are pleased to present the 2025 Preschool Teacher of the Year to Quail Hollow’s Amanda Kissell.