iLEAD AV Exploration Team Spotlight: Meet Educational Facilitator Desiree Doyle!

This week, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on one of iLEAD AV Exploration’s dedicated Educational Facilitators, Desiree Doyle, better known as Ms. Doyle! Joining us this year, Ms. Doyle brings a rich background in teaching and the arts, as well as experience homeschooling her children. Let’s get to know Ms. Doyle!

Q: Please tell us about your background and how you came to be at iLEAD AV Exploration.

Ms. Doyle: I have a deep passion for education and the arts, having taught middle school English, AVID, and drama for nearly a decade. I’ve also taught acting to students from TK through junior college, helping foster creativity and confidence in learners of all ages.

In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I was pregnant with my youngest child and decided to step away from formal education to focus on my family and homeschool my children. During this time, I also worked in recruiting and nonprofit support, gaining new skills and perspectives.

Ultimately, my passion for education led me back to a role where I could once again make an impact — this time by supporting other at-home learners and parents.

Q: What do you LOVE about iLEAD AV Exploration? What sets it apart from other schools?

Ms. Doyle: I am truly passionate about being a part of iLEAD AV Exploration. The learner outcomes of iLEAD — Lifelong Learner, Empathetic Citizen, Authentic Individual, and Design Thinker — deeply resonate with me both personally and professionally. These values align with my own educational philosophy and inspire me to help learners and families grow in meaningful ways.

What I especially love about this program is how it empowers families to take control of their children’s education, allowing for a more personalized and hands-on approach. It’s incredibly rewarding to see parents take an active role in their child’s learning journey.

On top of that, the connection and support from the amazing team and staff at iLEAD is something I truly appreciate. The sense of community and shared purpose make this experience even more fulfilling.

What’s the best part about your role?

Ms. Doyle: The best part of my role is supporting eager young learners and encouraging the efforts of parents who are proud to take the lead in their children’s education. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the pride parents have and the growth learners experience when they are empowered to take charge of their own learning journey.

Are you involved in other activities (e.g. clubs, tutoring, community engagement) at iLEAD AV Exploration? If not, what are some events you enjoy at iLEAD AV Exploration?

Ms. Doyle: While I’m new to the iLEAD AV Exploration team and still getting the lay of the land, I’m really looking forward to meetups and teaching workshops here. I love the idea of connecting with other families and sharing learning experiences.

There are great social-emotional learning activities/opportunities at iLEAD AV Exploration. Can you share a story about seeing learners using them in action (or yourself)?

Lately, I’ve been having conversations with learners about the importance of persisting through difficulties — something I’ve certainly had to do myself, though not always with the grace I would like! We’ve also talked about the courage it takes to be willing to take risks and look silly sometimes.

Opportunities to put these social-emotional skills into action are all around us. Our workshops and meetups offer a great space for learners to practice persistence and risk-taking. I see many of our students applying these skills in other areas of their lives too, whether it’s sports, music, robotics, karate, or acting — activities that naturally require resilience and a willingness to step out of their comfort zones.

Please give us a few examples of hands-on project-based learning your learners are involved in.

Ms. Doyle: Some of our learners are participating in the DreamUp to Space Challenge, where they have the exciting opportunity to create an experiment that could be selected to be sent to outer space! It’s an incredible project that really sparks their curiosity and creativity.

In addition, learners are engaging in hands-on science experiments, such as building Model Solenoids in robotics, which align with their science curriculum. It’s been great to see them apply what they’ve learned in such a practical way.

We are also excited to be finalizing details for a new social studies project-based learning opportunity that will be available to learners soon!

In your opinion, what makes a great leader? How do you teach leadership?

Ms. Doyle: A great leader is someone who shows resilience, empathy, and authenticity. I teach leadership by encouraging students to persist through challenges and take risks, even if it means looking a bit silly. I use real-life and relatable examples that speak to learners’ interests, and I incorporate interactive group experiences to help learners become more comfortable exploring their own skills.

Please name three to four fun/interesting facts about you. Extra credit for lots of details.

1. I studied theater and dance in Greece the summer before I graduated from college. As a philosophy major and theater minor, it was incredible to study the arts in the birthplace of Western philosophy — it was truly a wonderful experience!
2. Two of my most memorable jobs were working at In-N-Out and as a lead ride operator at Six Flags Magic Mountain. I know all the secrets of the menu and the ins and outs of the rides, making for some fun stories and insights!
3. I was a childhood “Annie” and have always loved the stage over the screen. However, I did appear in a commercial promoting the release of Aladdin when I was a kid in the ’90s.
4. I enjoy making sourdough bread from scratch. It’s a fun and rewarding hobby that keeps me busy and satisfied.

We are so fortunate to have Ms. Doyle with us! Please join us in giving her a warm iLEAD AV Exploration welcome!