LYNN — Third-grade teacher by day, multiple-sport coach by night – it’s all in a day’s work for Kaitlyn Wechsler.
She wears many hats, balancing her teaching job at Julia F. Callahan School while coaching girls varsity basketball, as well as girls and boys varsity volleyball at Lynn Tech.
Wechsler, who grew up in Merrick, New York, said she’s always felt a calling for teaching and coaching. From a young age, she found joy mentoring younger relatives, which naturally led her to the classroom.
“I had a lot of younger cousins growing up. I loved being able to spend time with them,” Wechsler said. “My sixth-grade yearbook asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, and I said ‘teacher.’”
Her passion for sports developed in parallel with her love for education. She started playing basketball in third grade and picked up volleyball soon after. She then became a multiple-sport athlete at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts while studying elementary education.
After graduation, Wechsler knew she wanted to find a lifestyle that combined both of her passions. At age 23, the City of Lynn gave her that opportunity.
“It was a way for me to be able to keep my passion for sports going, while also giving back the same way that my coaches did for me,” she said.
During the school day, Wechsler is deeply committed to her third-grade students. When she is in the classroom, she dedicates all of her time and attention to them, ensuring they are provided with the necessary building blocks to further their education.
Following her day at school, she heads over to Lynn Tech, where she prepares for practice – sometimes multiple practices per day.
Wechsler attributes much of her coaching success to her ability to translate teaching strategies into sports leadership.
“My high expectations – it’s the same that I have for both my students and my players,” she said. “The kids in my classroom, they know that they’re expected to work hard and do their best all the time, and the same thing goes for my players on the court.”
Her approach to coaching is both disciplined and adaptable. While she sets high standards, she also tailors her methods to each athlete’s needs, recognizing that different players respond to different coaching styles.
“I think that part of what I try to do is work on settling them down, even when times can seem like they’re a little out of control,” Wechsler said. “There are players I can be extra hard on, and I know that’s going to push them, and then there are other players that I know need just a little bit more of a calmer approach.”
With 12 years of experience coaching basketball, seven coaching girls volleyball, and now entering her third coaching boys volleyball, Wechsler has learned to adapt to different team dynamics.
She noted a distinction between the two sports: basketball requires strategic gameplanning against opponents, while volleyball focuses more on refining her team’s execution, according to Wechsler.
Despite the differences, she emphasizes common values in all her teams – teamwork, communication, and hard work— principles that are just as important in the classroom as they are on the court.
Over the years, Wechsler has mentored many young athletes, some of whom have gone on to follow in her footsteps. Amie Diaz, now in her second year as the girls’ junior varsity basketball coach at Lynn Tech, credits Wechsler as a major influence.
“I definitely look up to her,” Diaz said. “The way I coach is a direct reflection of how she coached me and my teammates.”
Yafreisis Ruiz, the girls’ JV volleyball coach, echoed that sentiment.
“She did a great job showing me different skills, but also discipline and hard work,” Ruiz said. “I try my best to use some of her coaching tactics with my players as I am always learning from her.”
For Wechsler, the greatest reward is seeing former players step into leadership roles. Yet, she remains humble, attributing much of her success to the Lynn community, which took a chance on her directly out of college.
“I really appreciate the staff, the athletic department, the teachers there,” Wechsler said. “A lot of them are really supportive of me and the girls and boys, so I definitely couldn’t do it without their support.”
Tyler Rourke is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This story was produced for the Massachusetts News Service of Endicott College in partnership with the Daily Item.
