Meet the SNO Patrol: Kyle
Meet the SNO Patrol
With just a few months to go until the National High School Journalism Convention in Minneapolis, we still have some SNO Patrol team members to introduce! So far, you’ve met Tom (one of our fearless leaders), Lyndsay (our technical support wizard), and Lindsay (our billing extraordinaire). Today, you’ll get to know Kyle, one of our trainers.
Don’t forget that you can meet Kyle (and the rest of the SNO gang) at the National High School Journalism Convention in Minneapolis this spring. We hope to see you there!
Meet Kyle Phillips
Q: How many years have you worked at SNO?
A: 3 years
Q: What is your position and what do you do at SNO?
A: It depends on the day! Education and Training Specialist, Support Specialist, Distinguished Sites committee chair and judge, and one time I think Tom jokingly told me that I can be CEO every other weekend.
Q: What did you do before you worked at SNO?
A: I worked at a video rental store in high school, then throughout college I worked at a movie theater, did maintenance for student housing, and coached large group speech.
After college, I worked as a newspaper, yearbook, and news website adviser at Cedar Rapids Washington High School. I left teaching in 2019 and worked for a year as a marketing specialist for a hose manufacturer, then as an administrative assistant for a county auditor.
Q: Where did you go to high school?
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: The University of Iowa – Go Hawks!
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: I enjoy attending sporting events, going for walks while listening to podcasts, and playing video games.
Q: What’s one interesting story about yourself?
A: We moved to Minnesota from Iowa because my wife grew up here and her family still lives in the Twin Cities area. We always talked about moving to Minnesota “someday” to be closer to family, and I always said that a job at SNO seemed like it would be a perfect fit. So, when I saw they had an opening in 2022, I decided to apply. It led me to a great job in a great city, and I still get to interact with some of the greatest educators in the country.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do in the Twin Cities?
A: I enjoy walking around the many lakes and trails in south Minneapolis. In 2025, I logged over 1,000 miles walking.
Q: What recommendations do you have for NHSJC attendees in the Twin Cities?
A: If you’re staying near the Convention Center downtown, and you brought appropriate late winter/early spring outdoor attire, I definitely recommend checking out a Minnesota Twins game at Target Field. It’s one of the nicest ballparks in Major League Baseball, and you can get tickets at a very reasonable price.
Q. Speaking of baseball, as our resident baseball aficionado, which MLB team has the best ballpark?
A: As a born and raised Chicago Cubs fan, I feel legally obligated to say Wrigley Field. It’s got great history and is in a wonderful neighborhood in Chicago. That being said, Target Field is a terrific modern stadium. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re a baseball fan… and can handle an outdoor game in April… in Minneapolis. Bring a coat!