Welcome!
I'm April!
And the first thing you need to know about me is that I'm passionate about education. Sound like the start to an interview response? It is, but it's the truth! I think somewhere down in my parents' basement is a worksheet from kindergarten that states when I grow up I want to be a...you guessed it, teacher! Education is all I've grown up wanting to do, and it is my heart, my home, and my soul.
That being said, being a part of education is not always easy! There always seems to be a lack of resources, funding, and of course, time. I am so proud to be a part of a profession of individuals who take the bull by the horns and always make sure that students have access to the best, no matter what. Even if that means late nights grading, weekends planning, and frequent trips to Target and the Dollar Store for a classroom makeover, games, and other ingenious ways to make learning fun for kids.
The Road to Creative Clutter
So how did I end up here? Well long story short, I grew up in the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula with an incredible family, love of the outdoors (minus ticks) and a survival instinct like no other (If you've ever experienced a true UP winter that lasts from October through May you know what I'm talking about!). I pursued my passion for education during my undergraduate career and obtained an honors degree in Elementary Education with minors in Mathematics and Language Arts. I left my university with experiences in all grades K-6 and fell even more in love with my profession and the people in it.
I have not left my home state of Michigan, although I have progressively moved farther and farther south throughout the years. Thankfully those moves landed me in a sandlot behind a Walgreens playing recreation volleyball in a new town far away from home seeking to meet new people to surround myself with. It was there that I met Peter, the love of my life (and now fiance) who I am so excited to marry. (Word to the wise: Don't attempt planning a wedding during a global pandemic, it's not great for your sanity!) With Peter came Copper, my now loyal and sometimes trouble making running buddy who always manages to keep things interesting!
During my time teaching and working with kids I have found that there are many different facets of my passion for education. For instance, I found a passion for curriculum and design through the beginnings of Creative Clutter in its infancy as my final honors project in school. As I continued in my career I developed a passion for leadership, and began pursuing my graduate degree in educational leadership in an effort to impact more students by positively impacting and supporting more teachers. Because that's really why we all get into education isn't it? That intrinsic want, need, and desire to help others. The drive to see the light bulbs turn on, connections be made, and smiles being shared.
Education has always been a part of my life and always will. I love that my passion has evolved and changed, and what excites me is the possibility to help others (students, parents, teachers, administrators) around me so that they may impact those around them as well. The ripple effect and magnitude of such a purpose is so great that I can't imagine doing anything else. I hope that Creative Clutter is able to encourage, motivate, and inspire you as it has for me throughout the journey of its creation.
Whether you're a teacher, parent, administrator, or just someone who loves education, I'd love to hear from you! Check out our contact page to send a message and make sure to subscribe for updates on everything Creative Clutter! I can't wait to see all that we can accomplish together!
Much Love,
April Yates
Our Philosophy
"Every child, every student is immeasurably important, intelligent, and will make an impact on the world."
-April Yates, Founder
All of us at Creative Clutter believe that every child is unique and deserves to have an education that inspires him or her to discover and follow his or her passion. And the first step to discovering that passion is an education.
Children who are given the opportunities to learn without stifling their creativity will thrive as they grow in their knowledge. Cultivating an educational environment that encourages creativity while helping to provide students with the tools and knowledge they need to pursue their passions, however, is not an easy task.
In order to help our children thrive in schools today, stakeholders in education must begin to collaborate, communicate, and cooperate together in order to effectively create change.
As a company in education, we recognize that our children, our students are the future, and it is our job as parents and educators to prepare them. Creative Clutter is here to help.
By increasing communication between stakeholders in education, and by providing easy to use, effective tools for the classroom and at home, the goal of Creative Clutter is to help your children, your students to succeed in the classroom.
Here at Creative Clutter we believe that the field of education is a constantly evolving, and we promise to continue to use our creativity and innovation to continually evolve and develop to better serve the needs of children. By learning and thinking creatively, we hope to help all of our students succeed in the classroom.