Articles and Spotlights

Member Spotlight: Brooke Tiano

posted 2 days ago

KDP is proud to spotlight one of our newest members, Brooke Tiano, an ESE Support Facilitator whose passion for inclusive education and student-centered teaching makes her an incredible addition to her KDP community. Finding Connection and Purpose Through KDP As a special education teacher and new KDP member, Brooke shares that joining KDP has already been transformative. ...

Board Spotlight: Dr. Joi Patterson

posted 2 days ago

Meet Dr. Joi Patterson , who serves as a Director-at-Large on the National Board of Directors as a Director-at-Large. Dr. Patterson currently serves as Chief of Institutional Engagement and Excellence at Governors State University, where she reports directly to the President and sits on the President’s Cabinet. An Unexpected Calling “I never imagined I would become an educator,” ...

Family Knowledge Matters: Reframing Engagement with Emergent Bilingual Communities

posted 12-09-2025

Family Knowledge Matters: Reframing En ga gement w ith Emergent Bilingual Communities By Grace Kibe Parents of emergent bilinguals (i.e., multilingual learners; formerly referred to as English language learners ) are often misunderstood and sometimes perceived as negligent regarding their children’s academic performance due to lower ...

Board Spotlight: Dr. Leah Carruth

posted 12-04-2025

Meet Dr. Leah Carruth, who serves as KDP’s President-Elect, teaches as an Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Angelo State University, and mentors future educators as the chapter counselor of the award-winning Mu Gamma Chapter. A Surprising Path Into Education For many who knew her growing up, Dr. Carruth’s career in education may have seemed unlikely. Naturally quiet and reserved, ...

How to Recognize Children’s Grief Awareness Day in Your School

posted 11-20-2025

If you’re a preservice teacher, student teacher, or in your first few years in the classroom, you might feel like big schoolwide initiatives are someone else’s job. But when it comes to Children’s Grief Awareness Day, your voice and ideas matter— a lot . Children’s Grief Awareness Day happens every year on the third Thursday in November (November 20, 2025). It’s a reminder that grieving students ...

Board Spotlight: Mr. Matt Bova

posted 11-18-2025

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 10 years of experience in finance and accounting, Matt Bova brings both expertise and heart to his role as KDP’s National Board Treasurer. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Accounting at Verizon Communications in Lake Mary, Florida, where he leads a team responsible for consolidating, closing, and reporting for all of Verizon’s companies. ...

Congratulations to Nicholas McCoy, the 2025 Dr. Marilyn Nicholas National Student Teacher of the Year!

posted 11-18-2025

Each year, KDP and the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) select the Dr. Marilyn Nicholas National Student Teacher of the Year to celebrate the exceptional contributions of a student teacher who demonstrates remarkable dedication, skill, and passion for the teaching profession. This prestigious recognition honors those who not only excel in classroom management and instructional strategies ...

KDP Board Spotlight: Dr. Nichelle Cook and Dr. Jeremy Coleman

posted 11-17-2025

Celebrating the Service of Dr. Nichelle Cook and Dr. Jeremy Coleman, Two Outstanding Directors-at-Large As we celebrate the close of a chapter, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to two remarkable leaders who have completed their service as Directors-at-Large on the KDP Board of Directors: Dr. Nichelle Cook (2020–2025) and Dr. Jeremy Coleman (2022–2025). Their contributions have ...

“I Don’t Know What to Say”: A Grief-Aware Mindset for Teachers

posted 11-13-2025

Picture this: You’re in your first year of teaching. You’ve just learned that one of your students’ caregivers died over the weekend. You care deeply, but your brain instantly panics: What do I say? What if I say the wrong thing? What if I make it worse? If that feels familiar, you’re not alone. Most educators never received formal preparation on how to support grieving students—yet almost all ...

From Social Media to the Classroom: Assessing the Fit of Classroom Management Practices You Find Online

posted 11-12-2025

From Social Media to the Classroom: Assessing the Fit of Classroom Management Practices You Find Online By Cynthia Deaton and Lydia Beahm Have you ever scroll ed through TikTok, Reddit, or a teacher blog and found a fun classroom management idea? Do you think you need to refine your current classroom management strategies to better engage and support your students ...

Board Spotlight: Mr. Mitch Pletcher

posted 11-05-2025

As a Director-at-Large on the KDP National Board of Directors, Mitch Pletcher sees his role as both an honor and an opportunity to give back to a profession that has shaped his life in countless ways. For Mitch, education isn’t just a field. It’s a lifelong inspiration. With a mother who taught for over 40 years, he grew up witnessing the incredible dedication, creativity, and resilience that teachers ...

EdTech to Empower ELLs in Any Classroom

posted 10-28-2025

EdTech to Empower ELLs in Any Classroom By Mac k enzie Shiau Imagine stepping into a classroom where half your students speak limited English, and a few have barely attended school. Their eyes are bright, but their voices are silent. You want to help—but how? Supporting English Language Learners (ELLs), especially Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal ...

Board Spotlight: Ms. Jessica Martz

posted 10-20-2025

For Jessica Martz, KDP represents recognition, connection, and purpose. “KDP means so much to me because it was the first time I truly felt recognized for my academic achievements in higher education,” she shares. After silently struggling with undiagnosed ADHD during her undergraduate years, being invited to join KDP during her master’s program was more than an honor—it was a moment of ...

Member Spotlight: Dr. Brandy Daingerfield

posted 10-20-2025

For more than five years, my KDP community has been a source of inspiration and connection. The shared passion for learning and leadership reminds me that education extends far beyond the classroom walls. KDP is a network of hearts and minds dedicated to growth. Through KDP, I’ve connected with educators whose ideas have shaped my own teaching philosophy and fueled my creativity as both an instructor ...

Hands-On, Minds-On: How Interdisciplinary Learning Inspires Student Engagement

posted 10-14-2025

Hands-On, Minds-On: How Interdisciplinary Learning Inspires Student Engagement By Ana Figueroa Using hands-on learning strategies to increase student engagement and participation takes planning and dedication (Frank, 2020). Teachers are central to this work, as they must balance academic growth with student enjoyment by attending to both cognitive and emotional needs that extend ...

Board Spotlight: Mr. Chris Beaman

posted 10-09-2025

For Chris Beaman, KDP has been far more than a professional organization. It has shaped his purpose, his leadership, and his belief in the transformative power of education. “KDP has been my professional home and personal compass. It’s where I found my voice as a student leader, honed my skills as a professional association staff leader, and has become a place for my investment to do important ...

Member Spotlight: Cynthia Valenti

posted 10-07-2025

I recently joined KDP and have already found it to be an incredible source of inspiration, support, and professional growth. Through KDP, I’ve connected with educators who share a deep commitment to equity, student-centered learning, and the transformative power of education. Those connections remind me daily that teaching is not a solitary act—it’s a collaborative journey built on shared wisdom and ...

As a Birdwatcher, Here’s What I've Learned About Classroom Management

posted 09-30-2025

As a Birdwatcher, Here’s What I've Learned About Classroom Management Birding taught me four ways we can better prepare our early-career teachers for the classroom By Ronak Shah During a quiz, two students whisper in the back of my room. I notice, but stay quiet. I have one chance to redirect them. Forty-seven seconds into their conversation, while my ...

Board Spotlight: Dr. Pierre Lu

posted 09-22-2025

Meet Dr. Pierre Lu, one of KDP's newest National Board Directors-at-Large and a Professor of Research Methodology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). A Passion for Learning and Teaching Dr. Lu’s path in education has taken him through some of the world’s most respected universities. He earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University, his M.Ed. from Harvard University, ...