At DSST: Cole Middle School, Tyler Randolph is the kind of educator who makes you say, “I hope I get to work with him forever.” Now in his seventh year at Cole, Tyler continues to grow, evolve, and inspire, all while keeping things grounded with his signature steady and mature presence.
Whether he’s teaching English Language Development (ELD), Social Studies, Literacy Intervention, or coaching basketball, Tyler brings a blend of humility, passion, and dedication to everything he does. His colleagues describe him as “a dream teacher to work with,” someone who’s always hungry for feedback and never stops leveling up.
Tyler is part of DSST’s Advanced Career Teacher (ACT) Cohort, a program that offers tailored professional development, leadership pathways, and opportunities to share their expertise for DSST’s most experienced educators. It’s all about helping our great, long-term teachers keep growing, thriving, and making magic in the classroom.
“He is passionate, humble, dedicated, and hilarious … If I could coach Tyler for the rest of my career, I would,” shared Meg LaFarge, School Director in Training at Cole MS. “He’s that awesome.”
Tyler is a grounding force for the 8th-grade team, helping everyone stay positive, especially during those tough stretches in October or February. His calm maturity and consistent optimism make him a pillar of support for both staff and students.
And his impact is clear in the data. Last year, Tyler helped lead Cole’s 8th graders to green literacy growth on CMAS and has consistently supported some of the highest ACCESS growth in the DSST network (and sometimes even the city) as an ELD teacher.
“Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, he coordinates our library efforts for the middle school, is a department chair, and is a phenomenal father to his kids,” LaFarge said. “It’s no surprise he won the network Responsibility Core Value award a few years ago!”
Tyler is the embodiment of what it means to be a Cole Dragon: grounded, joyful and relentlessly committed to student success. His presence makes Cole stronger, and his work makes us all a little better.
