As a graduate student, your knowledge and skills as an educator continue to expand and your intellectual pursuits in education take a new direction. KDP remains a ready partner with books and archived publications, networking and publishing opportunities, and financial support. |
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Teaching can be a lonely
profession. KDP connects me to other professionals and allows me
to network with those who want to be teachers or are already in the
classroom. I tell my fellow members, like so many things in life,
you get out of your KDP experience what you put into it. It’s not
just what KDP can do for you, but what you can do for KDP. I’m grateful
to have a strong relationship with a Society that has the prestige
and resources of Kappa Delta Pi. |
The Graduate Student National Committee, founded in 2006, focuses on the changing needs of graduate students. The Committee is made up of both master’s and doctoral students from around the country. The Committee assists in organizing activities and workshops at Convocation and other regional conferences especially for graduate students in addition to advising Headquarters staff members on new services and benefits for graduate student members. Want to get involved or have a suggestion? Contact the Committee at membership@kdp.org. |
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Grad Lounge Tip Archives |
KDP: A Community of Educators |
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It is August already! In just a few weeks, we will find ourselves back in school, sharing the same destiny—taking our places in a learning community. Whether we sit in a lecture hall or stand in front of students, we are about teaching, learning, and developing relationships within an educational setting. Yet, our teaching and learning connections can extend further, growing us professionally, inspiring us personally, or simply offering us a sense of belonging. One of these important connections is your honor society, Kappa Delta Pi. So, as you step onto your college campus or into your classroom this year, I urge you to keep KDP close to your heart. Focused on our studies and gaining certification, many of us view our membership in KDP mainly as an academic achievement. It is something we worked hard for and were proud to attain while in college. Following graduation, though, many KDP members let their membership lapse, thinking that it is only for people involved with university study. This simply is not true. Too often, graduating members see KDP only as an honor society, and they overlook its benefits beyond their undergraduate years. I know from my personal experience—as well as from my colleagues on the National Graduate Student Committee—that Kappa Delta Pi truly is more than an honor society for undergraduate and graduate students. It is a community of professional members as well, and making this message known is important. There are many benefits to retaining membership in KDP during graduate study and even after graduation. Here are a few assets I found through my continued membership: |
| • | As a graduate student, I found tons of online resources to take advantage of—and they are free only to members! |
| • | For both graduate course work and my classroom, I accessed teaching resources and podcasts on topics applicable to my studies and teaching needs. |
| • | Through my involvement in the Graduate Student Committee, I explored publishing opportunities that resulted in collaborative authoring of four articles with one of my KDP colleagues. |
| • | Using tips and examples available at the online career center, I polished my résumé. |
| • | Both as a student and an educator, I have had access to funding possibilities through scholarship opportunities and Classroom Teacher Grants, again available only to members. |
These are the benefits I realized; you may find many more. Explore the vast wealth of information, resources, and opportunities through your professional association at KDP Online. Stick around after you graduate; professional members enjoy plenty of benefits! Apply for a Classroom Teacher Grant and get mentoring advice. When you have three years of teaching under your belt, apply to become a KDP Teacher of Honor. As a grad student and a teaching professional, you may continue to access the Career Center and add to your repertoire of teaching skills through professional development opportunities. However, beyond these benefits, being a member of KDP is valuable because you are part of an international community of educators where collaboration, networking, and professional growth abound. Not only do I urge you to continue to enjoy the benefits of KDP, but also I ask that you talk about KDP to your colleagues. Encourage your graduate student peers and faculty members to join KDP. Let the teachers in your school know about the valued resources you find at KDP Online and how they can join KDP as professional members. It is never too late to join. Visit the About Membership section of KDP Online for more information and a membership application. Help the Kappa Delta Pi community grow and flourish. Make it known that KDP is more than an honor society—that it is an ever-expanding resource for graduate and professional members. Keon T. Ruiter |
