Sometimes the most rewarding career paths are the ones we never planned to take. For West Lee Middle School sixth grade math teacher Cayla Stamatopoulos, an unexpected turn in her professional journey led her into the classroom, where she discovered a passion for helping students grow.
Now in her third year with Lee County Schools, Stamatopoulos admits that teaching was not originally part of her plan.
“Teaching was not actually my first profession of choice,” she explained. “My husband and I moved to Lee County and I was not accepted to veterinary school, so I decided to try teaching out. My dad and my mom were both teachers, so I knew the profession very well.”
She began her career teaching fifth grade at W.B. Wicker Elementary School before realizing her personality and teaching style might be better suited for older students. That realization, along with the opportunity to continue working with Principal Aimee Petrarca, led her to West Lee Middle School.
After initially teaching both math and science, Stamatopoulos transitioned to teaching sixth-grade math exclusively.
“I love it so much,” she said. “Sixth grade math really is a joy to teach.”
Finding Joy in the Middle School Years
For Stamatopoulos, one of the most rewarding parts of teaching sixth grade is watching students navigate the transition from childhood toward adolescence.
“They are still young enough that they show they are kids,” she explained. “But then they have moments where you can be a little more sarcastic and fun with this group than you can with fifth graders.”
While their emerging independence and changing personalities can present challenges, Stamatopoulos particularly enjoys seeing how much students mature during their first year of middle school.
“I love that you get to watch them mature from the beginning of sixth grade. Then they come back as seventh graders and they seem like wholly different humans,” she said. “It really is fun to watch that transition.”
She finds particular satisfaction in helping students who need additional encouragement and attention.
“The ones that are a little more challenging, the ones that need just a little bit of extra attention, those are the ones that are truly amazing to watch at this stage.”
Those moments of growth remind her that teaching is about much more than academic achievement. It is also about helping young people develop confidence, maturity, and the skills they need to succeed.
Growing Through Support
As a beginning teacher who entered the profession after a closed door in veterinary medicine, Stamatopoulos credits the support of colleagues, mentors, and administrators throughout the Lee County School system with helping her develop into a confident educator.
“I feel like there is a lot of support here in Lee County,” she said. “Everywhere I turn there is someone asking if I need help or asking what they can do to assist me – especially during that first year of teaching.”
She specifically credits Patricia Coldren and Anne Knuth with helping her establish a strong foundation in classroom management, an area where she believes she has grown tremendously. She also remembers the willingness of administrators to step in and help when she faced challenges early in her career.
That consistent encouragement has reinforced her appreciation for the collaborative culture within Lee County Schools.
Teaching in the Community She Calls Home
Having grown up in several states, including Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, Stamatopoulos has found something special about teaching in the community where she and her husband have chosen to settle.
“Being in the community that I live in makes me want to work a little bit harder,” she explained. “I see these kids randomly in the grocery store or at the fair and how quickly they light up because they recognize you in a space outside of school is really heartwarming.”
Those encounters remind her that the impact of a teacher extends far beyond the classroom and that investing in students means investing in the future of the entire community.
“It is hard. It can be really scary, but if you just let it be good, if you just focus on the good, it really is one of the best professions. You get to impact the most people here.”
For Stamatopoulos, what began as a back-up career plan has become a meaningful commitment to helping students thrive in the community she proudly calls home.