In the heart of Metro Detroit, a new generation of educators is redefining what it means to teach, inspire, and uplift. For Chayse Hurley, a fifth-year educator at Tyrone Elementary School in Harper Woods, teaching isn’t just a job—it’s a calling grounded in joy, purpose, and transformation.
Known for her high energy and unwavering commitment, Chayse throws herself fully into everything she does—from leading engaging STEM lessons for grades 3–5 to mentoring students at her church. Whether she’s developing hands-on science units or guiding youth through personal growth, she shows up with passion and presence.
“Science helps open doors to collaboration and working as a team,” Chayse explains. “All students have a voice and can bring their portion to the discussion. Working together they bring strength and learn to help each other.”
Chayse didn’t originally plan to become a teacher. After earning her Master’s in Public Policy, she joined AmeriCorps and then became a 2020 Teach For America Detroit Corps Member, where she discovered the power of working directly with students. Over time, she realized her policy interests and classroom work weren’t at odds—but deeply connected.
“The big shift for me this year has been stepping into owning my role as a teacher. This is my room and I don’t have to be like anyone else. Owning my space brings more joy and a healthy learning environment to my students.”
Rather than defining ownership as control, Chayse sees it as taking responsibility for cultivating a space where students feel safe, seen, and empowered to take ownership themselves. Her classroom is a shared environment, built with intention and joy, where every learner plays an active role.
Principal Floyd Simmons sees that energy and authenticity reflected every day.
“Chayse brings energy, innovation, and a love for learning that inspires everyone around her.”
“She thrives on project-based learning, and her creative ideas are not only engaging but deeply meaningful—our students genuinely look forward to the experiences she designs for them.”
Her classroom is more than a place for academic learning—it’s a space of emotional healing and self-discovery. Whether it’s pairing students in supportive learning partnerships or identifying strengths in students others may overlook, Chayse builds a culture where kids feel seen, supported, and stretched.
Part of what makes Tyrone special, she says, is its sense of community. Bimonthly assemblies where families gather to celebrate student success help reinforce the village it takes to raise confident learners.
Though she sometimes reflects on returning to policy work to tackle change on a systemic level, Chayse sees the classroom as one of the most direct paths to impact.
“The joy of being able to speak into kids’ lives directly and see how they come into what is spoken to them, how they develop and own that leadership potential, is incredible.”
Outside of school, Chayse continues her mission of supporting the whole child through her work as the youth director at her church—a role she stepped into when she saw a gap in leadership and decided to fill it. She also keeps her own energy up by lifting weights and playing ultimate frisbee, modeling the importance of self-care and balance for her students and community.
Her guiding mission is simple but profound:
“To see kids loved so well that they can go on to be adults who love well—and choose to do so.”
Chayse Hurley
Chayse Hurley is a STEM Educator for grades 3–5 at Tyrone Elementary School in Harper Woods, Michigan. She is a TeachMichigan Early Career Educator Fellow Alumni, a Detroit Summer Learning Institute Mentor Teacher, a 2020 Teach For America Detroit Corps Member, and an AmeriCorps alum.
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