When you think of a "super mom," you might picture someone who juggles a dozen tasks at once—but Stephanie Kleiner takes that definition to a whole new level. A third-grade teacher at Forest Dale Elementary, head coach of the Carmel High School softball team, and mother of two, Kleiner has just been named the 2026 IndyStar Sports Mom of the Year. And if you ask her family, students, or players, the honor couldn't be more deserved.

Kleiner has a special talent for bringing out the best in everyone around her—whether it's her students in the classroom, her athletes on the diamond, or her own daughters at home. Her secret weapon? A well-timed dose of mom guilt. "If I don't want to clean my room, she'll say, 'I'll clean it then,'" says her eighth-grade daughter, Alex. "It makes me feel bad. It works. It really works."

Her oldest, Carmel softball senior Jayden Kleiner, sums it up even simpler: "She's Super Mom. She's a natural leader. When she steps into a room, people listen."

That leadership was put to the test when Kleiner took over the Carmel softball program nearly three years ago. The team was struggling—both in numbers and on the scoreboard—and there was a noticeable gap between the high school squad and the younger players coming up through the system. "When I took the job, there was a huge disconnect," Kleiner recalls.

So she set out to reinvent the "Pups" program, the bridge between Carmel's youth softball players and the high school team. But this wasn't just about picking teams and scheduling games. Kleiner transformed the program into something far more meaningful. Now, you'll find young Pups players in the dugout at Carmel games, cheering alongside their high school heroes as they take on batgirl duties. And it's just as common to see Carmel's varsity players showing up at Pups games, building bonds that go beyond the field.

Those relationships have been a game-changer. The program is buzzing with renewed energy, and the wins are starting to follow. "Her impact is deeply personal," says Heidi Stan, whose daughter is part of the Carmel program. "Stephanie has raised her oldest daughter not only to be a talented player, but to be a leader and mentor. She has encouraged her to take our daughter in like a little sister—helping train her, guide her, and support her along the way. That kind of example doesn't happen by accident; it reflects the values Stephanie lives every day."

Whether she's teaching a math lesson, calling pitches from the dugout, or cleaning a room to make a point, Stephanie Kleiner is proof that the best coaches—and the best moms—know exactly how to inspire the people around them.