KDP convocations have taken place every other year since 1915. The biennial event is part of our heritage, as are recognition of scholarship and honoring educators—the core values of this organization and its mission. I have been thinking about how important it is to maintain our Core while expanding our boundaries to meet the needs of the educator in the 21st Century.

I believe that the Core of KDP helps our members meet their basic need for acknowledgment—for having achievements recognized and validated. KDP also provides an opportunity to be part of something larger than ourselves, our classroom, or our campus. Building relationships at an individual, program, or Society level also helps sustain that Core. KDP has been successful at being true to its Core—honoring excellence in education and unifying the membership.

The other thing I have been thinking about is how KDP expands the boundaries of its Core to maintain relevance for educators in the 21st Century. Who does KDP need to be? Research, in a variety of fields, supports the need for a strong core—a connection to core beliefs and principles that retain strength, and the courage to reach out and try new things that allow for growth and maintain relevance. KDP’s Core, established nearly 100 years ago, is honoring outstanding educators; that Core remains intact, with boundaries extended to include professional development for beginning educators and throughout the life cycle of their careers. Once a Society of campus-based chapters only, KDP chapter affiliation now includes the honorary Laureate Chapter, alumni chapters, school-based chapters, professional chapters (and individual members), as well as the recent e-Chapter.

See what other members and chapters are doing; send your activities.

Kudos Congratulations to the first-grade class of Richard Colosi (Alpha Gamma Omicron) at Canandaigua Primary School (Rochester, NY), which competed with 220 other contest entrants from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand to win a $15,000 Interwrite Makeover from Interwrite Learning. Colosi and his students spent a lot of time producing their video about technology, but it was important. “It’s been a really positive experience,” Colosi said. With the prize, which includes an Interwrite Interactive board and LCD projector, Colosi hopes to create a “model classroom, technology wise,” that will impact the rest of the school. To watch the class’s grand-prize-winning “Ain’t Gonna Hold Us Back (D-I-G-I-T-A-L)” video, go to http://contest.interwritelearning.com/contestant/154. Katherine “Katie” Alexander, (Alpha Beta Mu, Southeastern University), was one of four Florida education majors to receive the Fanchon F. Funk Scholars Award, which is given by the Florida Association of Teacher Educators at its annual conference. Assistant Professor of Education and Alpha Beta Mu Counselor Dr. Patty LeBlanc nominated Alexander because “She’s a really great student, and she’s very involved in Kappa Delta Pi. [Katie] has done a lot of work in outreach, she’s a great coordinator, and she’s good at bringing people and resources together.” Lifetime member Dr. Arthur Stellar, Superintendent of Taunton Public Schools (Taunton, MA) was the recipient of the 2007 National Dropout Prevention Network’s Crystal Star Award for Excellence for Distinguished Service and Leadership. The dropout rate in Taunton was 6.8 percent prior to Dr. Stellar’s arrival. Within two years, the rate dropped to 4.2 percent. Dr. Stellar, who was initiated into Ohio University’s Omega Chapter in 1970, believes that schools exist to ensure that all students are successful. Susan Trostle Brand with Lucinda Rose Counselor Award founder Vincent McGrath (Theta Chi). Susan Trostle Brand, Iota Sigma Chapter at the University of Rhode Island, received the Lucinda Rose Counselor Award at Convo 2007. Honored by the designation, this veteran counselor praised her chapter and university. Read what she and her Iota Sigma colleagues said of the honor and what it means for the chapter and university, and learn more about this prestigious award at the Counselor Awards Page in the Convo 2007 section. Find links to educational and professional resources. It’s a Virtual World! Blogs, wikis, and podcasts. So you missed the live presentation by Will Richardson, author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (Corwin Press 2006) at the KDP Biennial Convocation in Louisville. No worries! Plug into Will’s discussion of “Teaching at the Crossroads: Professional Practice in a Web 2.0 World” via podcast or wiki. MITOPENCOURSEWARE. Physics students, would you like to study String Theory through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology? String Theory for Undergraduates is just one of MIT’s offerings in its online MITOPENCOURSWARE. View an index of MITOPENCOURSEWARE, sign up for a newsletter or RSS feed about upcoming classes, and learn more about this exciting opportunity for self-learners to enhance knowledge, keep current in a subject area, and plan for future studies. Global TeachNet. Gain a global perspective in your classroom through Global TeachNet. Get international lesson plans, sign up for weekly listserve announcements of global education opportunities in the U.S. and abroad, and access affiliate Kids Around the World, a Web site that introduces elementary school-aged children in the United States to the lives of children in developing countries around the world. See what members are saying. About Convo 2007 “I really enjoyed the workshop sessions! They had practical, hands-on advice and tips that actually work.” “I made so many contacts, and the workshops were very helpful and informative too. I was a first-time attendee. The conference exceeded my expectations.” “I am so proud to be a part of Kappa Delta Pi—a community of caring, committed, connected educators who truly do make a difference! How wonderful to be appreciated for our efforts, also. Convo was all beautiful! The “I Believe” song, with the groups of young singers, was especially heartwarming. Thank you so much for everything!”        –Susan Trostle Brand, University of Rhode Island About KDP Resources “Wow, I love this Resource Roundup! Thank you so much!”        –Sheri Mycue, Field Supervisor, Central Washington University KDP asks the question—you get to answer! What do 21st Century skills look like in your classroom? Share examples with the editors at KDP, and we’ll publish them in an upcoming KDP Publication or at KDP Online.

Read about various types of KDP chapters and their successful initiatives.

Fund-raising ideas can come from anywhere. Just ask Sigma Chi Historian Katie Wjotowicz. When she decided to make T-shirts for her friends to wear to Scranton’s first annual Office Convention, celebrating television’s popular and quirky “The Office” (which is based on the Scranton branch of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company), she had no idea it would lead to a KDP fund-raiser.

After online sales of the shirts took off more than expected, she and the chapter decided to work together to raise money for a good cause. Three weeks later, Sigma Chi had sold more than 600 shirts and raised $2,000—and not “Schrutebucks” either. Because children hold a special place in the hearts of these education majors, chapter members determined to donate the money to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its work with children.

“On behalf of Kappa Delta Pi, please accept this check as a token of our appreciation for the wonderful work that you do. We trust that every single penny will go toward making someone’s heart beat stronger and someone’s smile shine brighter,” Katie wrote in her letter to the hospital.

Alpha Alpha Psi
Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ
Counselor: Jane Weber


Alpha Alpha Psi recently sponsored its annual Lunch with Santa. About 50 local children attended the event, which included lunch, holiday-themed activities, take-home gifts for each participating child and, of course, a visit with Santa Claus.

Learn about giving and receiving the KDP Educational Foundation way.

Global Awareness Travel Scholarships

Tiffany Chambers Midwest Chapter Resource Consultant “Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.” – John F. Kennedy

Though a staff member only since September, KDP is not new to Tiffany, who was a charter member of the Phi Beta Chapter at Indiana Wesleyan University. Valuing her connection to the chapter and a professional organization in her chosen field, Tiffany saw this job opportunity at Headquarters as a way to further her involvement in KDP, take on a new challenge, and nurture her growing interest in working with preservice educators and professors.

Kelly Skinner Director of Membership and Marketing “I want to see KDP grow beyond 50,000 members!”

Another new face at Headquarters is Kelly Skinner. As Director of Membership and Marketing, she works closely with Chapter Resource Consultants and provides hands-on assistance with membership materials. Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas from her work experience at two universities and several nonprofit associations. Additionally, she has a master’s in higher education administration, is a lifetime member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, and serves on the board of her children’s school.

As she assumes her current position, Kelly is impressed with recent innovative initiatives and where they can take KDP. She especially likes that KDP represents the depth and breadth of educational professionals and looks forward to the personal and professional challenges that supporting and increasing the membership bring. Her personal “tagline” is “There is life in KDP after graduation.” So get fired up, KDP members; Kelly’s also challenging you!


You ask, KDP answers.

Q. How do I subscribe to The Educational Forum?

KDP members can get this scholarly journal at a huge savings over nonmembers. You pay only $22 for an annual subscription, while nonmembers pay $65. This savings alone is well worth the cost of your KDP membership! The quarterly journal is published on a calendar year, with issues in January, April, July, and October. To subscribe, go to www.kdp.org/publications/howtosubscribeforum.php.