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Kyle Palmer
Occupation: Owner and Lead Instructor of Kumon S. Harrell’s Ferry Wife: Sydney
Children: Quinn, 5 ½, and Zuri, 3 Hobbies: Sports, fishing, the arts, and being outdoors
K yle Palmer is a devoted father, education advocate, and owner and lead instructor at Kumon S. Harrell’s Ferry. With a busy household that includes his wife, Sydney, and their two daughters, Quinn and Zuri, Kyle successfully balances family, work, and personal passions. From educational adventures and thoughtful one-on-one time with his kiddos, Kyle shares his lifelong connection to education and how it has shaped his role as a family man and educator who is passionate about guiding children to a successful future. WHAT’S ONE THING THAT SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT BECOMING A DAD? KYLE: There is no off button. It’s 24/7, even when they’re going to bed or sleeping. Not that I figured there would be, but it’s around the clock. I wasn’t aware of that before my firstborn, Quinn, so I would say it was a surprising factor. WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WEEKEND LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR FAMILY? KYLE: We’re very involved with their extracurriculars and academics. We lay out things through the week for them aca- demically, and we try to pair that up with something hands-on that they can do for the weekend. We’ve been studying the first civi- lizations, and we are now merging that with a vacation to Riviera Maya to go to a few of the ruins. So educational activities, sporting events…Both of our girls are into soccer and
KYLE: We spend a lot of time together. [Growing up] with having a single mom who was an educator for 43 years and a dad who wasn’t present, I would tell people all the time at like, five-, six-years old, that whenever I do have kids, I’m going to be very active in their lives. So, we’re estab- lishing traditions as the years go by, but it’s strictly just family time, every opportunity that we get outside of the normal hustle and bustle. WHAT’S ONE LESSON YOU HOPE YOUR CHILDREN ALWAYS REMEMBER FROM YOU? KYLE: The importance of family, hard work, and discipline. I think this helps shape our individual households, which then helps shape our community, which in return helps shape our great nation. So definitely family, love, and discipline are three main priorities every single day. HAS BEING A DAD CHANGED THE WAY YOU SEE THE WORLD OR YOURSELF? KYLE: Being a parent, a father, has allowed me to understand the different dynamics that we all go through, and the different
gymnastics and piano. So on weekends, we always have piano practice. That's what a typical weekend will be like. HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING PRESENT FOR YOUR KIDS WHILE JUG- GLING YOUR WORK RESPONSIBILITIES? KYLE: I’m used to having a lot on my plate, and I definitely get that from my mom. I’ve seen her go for years, and I think I’ve just naturally adapted that. But, balancing a business is a challenge, let alone with a five-year-old, three-year-old, and a wife, who all deserve the rightful time that they need. But my schedule works perfectly for it. Kumon is an after-school reading and math program, and our students come to us after school lets out. So, I get to take our oldest to school, and our youngest, Zuri, I get a chance to work with her every morn- ing. That’s what a typical day looks like working with my daughters: education, early morning walks, different things like that. Then I jump into my normal routines for the business. WHAT FAMILY TRADITIONS ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?
20 AUGUST 2025 | BRPARENTS.COM
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