About Kayla Dornfeld

Kayla Dornfeld is an award-winning educator, nationally recognized speaker, and the creator behind Top Dog Teaching. Named the 2020 Top Educator of the Year and the 2019 North Dakota Teacher of the Year, Kayla is known for her innovative approach to student-centered learning and her passion for empowering both teachers and kids.

She’s a two-time Global Hundred honoree (2017 & 2018), recognized as one of the top 100 innovative educators in the world. The New York Times even called her “one of the tech-savviest teachers in the United States.” In 2021, she was named Youth Volunteer of the Year by St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and in 2018, she received the UND Sioux Award, the university’s highest honor.

With over 16 years of classroom experience in kindergarten through third grade, Kayla holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of North Dakota. Her thought leadership has been recognized by PBS, ISTE, and HarperCollins, and her TEDx Talk, Reimagining Classrooms, has inspired educators worldwide. She’s also co-author of the best-selling books Education Write Now and 10 Perspectives on Learning in Education.

Kayla has delivered hundreds of keynotes—one of the most memorable being at Twitter HQ—and continues to support educators globally through her speaking, writing, and now, her online platform that blends classroom inspiration with teacher-mom lifestyle.