Dr. Barbara Hong, an Associate Professor of Special Education, is in her second year at Penn State Altoona and her first year as Counselor of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Chapter. Her Kappa Delta Pi affiliation began, however, when she became a member as a student at Teachers College, Columbia University.

“I remember feeling so honored to be initiated into KDP,” she said in an interview.

That sense of honor and recognition and what it meant to her spurred Dr. Hong to start a chapter at Penn State Altoona. “We have outstanding teacher education students, and we need to recognize them.” She believes that being recognized builds members’ pride in their profession as well. Wanting to set a model of achievement for potential members, she set the bar high. Candidates must have a 3.5 GPA.

Yet Dr. Hong knows that good grades do not guarantee a good teacher. Character, an exemplary disposition, and good inter- and intrapersonal communication skills, as well as passion are traits of a good teacher. “Students see passion in their teacher, and they pay attention. If the teacher is excited, he or she is conveying that there must be something about the subject worth knowing. Good teachers must be resourceful and self-directed. Also, teachers are community representatives; they extend themselves beyond the students they teach.”

To help develop such teachers, Dr. Hong gives members many opportunities to be recognized, build leadership skills, and prepare well for the profession. Because Dr. Hong wants to emphasize the honor of being invited to join KDP and give recognition to students, every inducted member receives a personalized congratulatory letter from the Chancellor, and their names are listed in the local media. To instill leadership skills, each chapter member is required to participate in at least one ad hoc committee and encouraged to take on leadership positions. The chapter’s expectation is “Every member a leader.”

Chapter members are not the only ones to benefit from the chapter. Dr. Hong has found that her position as leader of a student organization, especially an honor society, has augmented her ability to bring special programming and speakers to campus, allowing students to meet renowned educators across the country. This autonomy has given her and chapter members wonderful opportunities to network and advance the profession outside her university. Both Dr. Hong and the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter are fortunate to have strong administrative support, which sponsored several members to attend Convocation 2009 last October. It was an experience Dr. Hong really enjoyed. It wasn’t a conference for networking only, she said. “I learned a lot.”

Dr. Hong hopes to see her student members retain their connection to KDP long after they graduate. She recognizes the value of belonging to a community of dedicated educators and how the dynamics can keep them current in the field.