Go Tuffy Go

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Kyle Holley, 42, has never been a classroom teacher and doesn't have a degree in education.

But for the past few years, he has been teaching students about character using Tuffy, an American quarter horse.

Holley and business partner Leslie Kaufmann have designed an initiative around the 6-year-old horse that includes a just-released book, "Tuffy, A Real American Quarter Horse Hero." Each Santa Rosa County elementary teacher will receive a copy.

"The School Board approved a policy on bullying and harassment Tuesday, and that's a lesson in the book," he said.

Holley likes to show by example, Kaufmann said.

"Kyle has a strong sense of community and citizenship," she said. "He wants to set an example on working together in a positive manner to make our community a better place for all of us."

Holley said he doesn't mind speaking up when things are not OK. During dinner at a restaurant recently, he didn't take kindly to the way a man was speaking to a woman.

"It was nasty language," he said to some fourth-graders at East Milton Elementary School while giving a lesson on character traits. "I didn't want to hear it, and I didn't want that lady to hear it."

Holley, who had heart attacks in 2006 and 2007, spoke up.

"He got a little mad, and I got a little nervous because he was twice my size," he said. "But, I was born with a big dose of compassion and have no tolerance for any kind of bullying."

The woman thanked him.

Holley uses 15 years of sales and marketing experience to create ways to benefit the classroom. He said Tuffy is an attention-getter for the Santa Rosa Education Foundation's Teacher Grants Program. Book proceeds will be used to help fund the grants.