Blogs

Member Spotlight: Daquesnye Angel Miller

By Raevyn Harris posted 12 days ago
Daquesnye Angel Miller believes learning can change the way people see themselves, their work, and what they are capable of achieving. “My passion lies in helping individuals grow, develop their strengths, and achieve their full potential,” she shares. That belief guides her work as a doctoral student in Performance Improvement Leadership. Daquesnye is especially interested in workplace learning, leadership development, and helping employees perform at their best through effective coaching and support. For her, the most rewarding part is knowing that her work can help someone move forward. Her experience with KDP has given her ...

Member Spotlight: Dr. John Helgeson

By Raevyn Harris posted 13 days ago
For Dr. John Helgeson, some of the best parts of teaching happen in small, everyday moments. It might be seeing a student finally understand something, watching their confidence grow, or hearing from a former student who still remembers something that happened in his classroom years ago. Those moments make the difficult days worth it. Dr. Helgeson teaches middle school history and English at Korea International School. While the classroom can be demanding, his students continue to give him a reason to come back excited each day. “The world of education is constantly evolving, yet its foundation remains the same: helping students learn, grow, ...

Your Classroom Doesn't Have to Be Pinterest-Perfect: Start the Year with Purpose and Balance

By Samantha Martin posted 18 days ago
The weeks before school starts can leave new teachers feeling like they need to have everything figured out, from classroom décor to lesson plans. The reality is that students won't remember whether your bulletin boards were perfect. They will remember how your classroom made them feel. Rather than chasing perfection, new educators can spend the summer creating systems, building confidence, and prioritizing wellness. These three strategies from Teaching Channel can help you start the school year ready to thrive, not just survive. 3 Ways New Teachers Can Prep Their First Classroom This Summer Build Your Classroom Brand Think about the atmosphere you ...

Member Spotlight: Dr. Michelle Aguiar-Flenniken

By Raevyn Harris posted 26 days ago
Dr. Michelle Aguiar-Flenniken has built her career around a simple belief: when educators are supported, children benefit. Her work in early childhood education has taken many forms, including training, coaching, mentoring, leadership, and professional development. No matter the setting, her focus remains the same. She wants educators to feel confident in their work, supported through challenges, and equipped to create meaningful learning experiences for young children. “I believe that investing in educators is one of the most powerful ways to improve outcomes for young children,” Michelle shared. Mentoring is especially meaningful ...

Member Spotlight: Mrs. Janneth Martinez

By Raevyn Harris posted 26 days ago
After 14 years in the classroom, KDP member Mrs. Janneth Martinez is preparing for an exciting new chapter in her career. The fifth-grade reading and writing teacher will soon transition into an assistant principal role, where she will continue supporting students, families, and fellow educators. Throughout her career, Janneth has remained focused on one belief: every student needs an educator who believes in them. “My students inspire me to continue growing as an educator and to seek resources that provide equitable opportunities and access for all learners,” she shared. Janneth is passionate about building meaningful relationships ...

KDP Announces The Association Partner as Exclusive Advertising Partner

By Natalie Pemberton posted 28 days ago
Kappa Delta Pi is proud to announce The Association Partner (TAP) as KDP’s exclusive advertising partner , launching a dynamic new chapter in how mission-aligned organizations connect with educators nationwide. Through this collaboration, organizations can now reach the educators shaping America’s classrooms through website banners, newsletters, dedicated e-blasts, and digital retargeting. It is a powerful opportunity because teachers are influencers not only in the classroom, but wherever they go. They shape what gets used, shared, recommended, and trusted in classrooms, schools, homes, and communities every day. KDP connects brands with 20,000 members ...

Summer Wellness Reset: Helping Teachers Recharge for a Stronger School Year

By Samantha Martin posted 07-07-2026
Summer offers educators something that can feel rare during the school year—time to breathe, reflect, and focus on themselves. After months of lesson planning, grading, meetings, and supporting students, summer provides the perfect opportunity to reset and prioritize personal wellness. As highlighted by Teaching Channel, this season can be a valuable time for teachers to focus on improved sleep, healthy habits, movement, hydration, and overall well-being. Rather than treating wellness as another item on a to-do list, educators can use the summer to make small, meaningful changes that support long-term health. Teaching Channel shares four key areas of focus ...

Mentors Need Mentoring Too: Rethinking Support in Education

By Samantha Martin posted 07-07-2026
Mentors Need Mentoring Too: Rethinking Support in Education By: Alexis L. Hamlor By early February, one of my mentees was still carrying the exhaustion she had first named months earlier. She was a first-year teacher in an integrated co-teaching (ICT) classroom, balancing graduate coursework, lesson planning, grading, family responsibilities, and the daily pressure of learning how to survive in a new school system. As her mentor, I recognized the hesitation . Not because I could know exactly what she was thinking, but because I had seen that pause before: the carefulness that comes when a new teacher ...

Member Spotlight: Mrs. Lori Andrews

By Raevyn Harris posted 07-02-2026
As the Director of a Child Development Center in Wisconsin and one of the newest members of her KDP community, Mrs. Lori Andrews spends her days guiding kids through their most formative years, focusing on the lasting impact a positive early start can have. A Safe Place to Grow Lori’s goal is to create a space where kids can thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. "My faith and desire to serve others inspire me to create a loving, inclusive environment where every child feels valued, respected, and capable of success," Lori shares. A big part of making that happen is building strong relationships with ...

Member Spotlight: Ms. Wilmar Medina De Hoyos

By Raevyn Harris posted 07-02-2026
For Wilmar Medina De Hoyos, the classroom has never been a place for passive learning. It is a launching pad for societal transformation. A Puerto Rican educator, former athlete, and recent law graduate, Wilmar has built her journey at the intersection of education and justice, driven by a deep-seated belief in the power of knowledge. "I am inspired by the belief that education is the most powerful tool for transforming lives," Wilmar shares. "I do not believe in an education limited to memorizing content; I believe in an education that empowers students to think critically, ask questions, understand their rights, and become agents of change." ...

Being Good Enough in a World That’s Asking for More

By Raevyn Harris posted 07-01-2026
Do you ever feel like no matter how much you do, it's never quite enough? Teachers are constantly asked to give more, do more, learn more, and be more. Between classroom responsibilities, student needs, meetings, family life, and the pressure to keep improving, it can feel overwhelming. Even when you are doing your best, the world can make you feel like you should somehow be doing more. This Rooted Teacher Podcast episode explores the pressure to be perfect and the freedom that comes with embracing the idea of being good enough. Inspired by the work of Brené Brown and her insights on vulnerability and self-worth, this episode ...

You’re Already Amazing: A Reminder for Teachers to Embrace Who They Are

By Raevyn Harris posted 07-01-2026
In the effort to do our best, it can be easy to slip into the pressure of perfection. Teachers give so much of themselves every day. You plan, prepare, adjust, encourage, problem-solve, and show up for others in countless ways. But in the middle of striving, it is also easy to compare yourself to others or overlook the unique strengths, gifts, and accomplishments you already bring to your work and your life. High achievement can be a good thing, but it should not come at the cost of forgetting your own worth. This Rooted Teacher Podcast episode is a heartfelt reminder that you do not have to earn your value by doing more, being ...

Making Wellness Feel Possible: A Conversation with Lade Akande

By Raevyn Harris posted 07-01-2026
Juice cleanses. Fad diets. Intense workout challenges. Strict routines that seem impossible to maintain. At the start of the summer, messages about health and wellness are everywhere. While many of them are meant to motivate us, they can also feel overwhelming, unrealistic, or simply too hard to begin. For teachers, wellness often needs to be practical. It has to fit into full schedules, busy classrooms, family responsibilities, and the everyday demands of caring for others. That is why this episode of the Rooted Teacher Podcast is such an important reminder: wellness does not have to be complicated to make a difference. In ...

Strategies for Mitigating Stress in the Elementary Classroom

By Samantha Martin posted 06-30-2026
Strategies for Mitigating Stress in the Elementary Classroom By: Brandy-Lea McCombs Every morning, elementary teachers open their doors to students carrying invisible backpacks. Inside these backpacks aren't just crayons and notebooks, but often the heavy weight of high levels of stress, chaos, or trauma. Research consistently confirms what educators witness firsthand: high levels of adversity during childhood (ages 0–18) profoundly reshape a child's trajectory, impacting their long-term physical health, mental wellness, social relationships, and future workforce stability ( Felitti et al, 1998) . When complex ...

Navigating First-Year Fears, Fights, and Feats

By Samantha Martin posted 06-23-2026
Navigating First-Year Fears, Fights, and Feats By: Kayla Layman Picture this: you just arrived at school on the first day of your first year of teaching. You could hardly wait for this moment! You worked relentlessly to graduate, pass the necessary certification exams, and interview for your dream job. All you could think about the last few days while setting up your classroom was the anticipation of meeting your students for the first time. Then, your first day goes amazingly well! You feel incredibly lucky and fulfilled to be doing something so meaningful. But soon after, you realize you are on the biggest rollercoaster of your ...

Member Spotlight: Ms. Sherena Thomas

By Raevyn Harris posted 06-18-2026
For Ms. Sherena Thomas , education is about far more than just helping students' complete assignments—it is about shaping their confidence and fostering a lifelong love for learning. As a current Learning Lab Assistant at Helena Park Elementary, Sherena balances her daily work in the classroom with her studies at Grand Canyon University. For her, joining Kappa Delta Pi has been a transformative experience that provides both the framework and the community to help her thrive as a future educator. "Having a supportive community like KDP has given me both confidence and motivation," Sherena shares. "It reminds me that I am not alone on this ...

Member Spotlight: Dr. Melissa Webb Earnest

By Raevyn Harris posted 06-18-2026
Meet Dr. Melissa Webb Earnest , a KDP legacy member , CARE Action Team member, and dedicated educator who has been part of the KDP community for 31 years. Currently serving as an Adjunct Professor at the American College of Education, Dr. Webb Earnest shared her journey from a non-traditional student to a veteran educator, and why peer support matters now more than ever. Finding a Lifeline as a Non-Traditional Student Dr. Webb Earnest’s history with KDP began when she returned to school as a non-traditional student to earn her master’s degree and teaching certification at the same time. "When I was introduced to the professional organization, ...

Member Spotlight: Dr. Clarissa Gamble Booker

By Raevyn Harris posted 06-04-2026
Meet Dr. Clarissa Gamble Booker, a member of KDP’s esteemed Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter and recipient of The 2026 Dr. Thomas E. Musselman Award for Service Excellence . This award honors an individual whose sustained commitment to service has made a meaningful impact within KDP and the education profession. For Dr. Booker, that spirit of service is not just something she demonstrates—it is part of the legacy she continues to build. At Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Booker is widely respected as a dynamic leader, tenured professor in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, and coordinator of the reading program. Her journey ...

Member Spotlight: Ms. Vladine Roche

By Raevyn Harris posted 06-04-2026
For Ms. Vladine Roche , KDP has been a source of connection, encouragement, and professional growth. “My KDP family has allowed me to truly flourish in my classroom,” Vladine shared. “They provide purposeful professional development, collaboration, and educational resources.” As a seventh-grade teacher and member of the Alpha Epsilon Gamma Chapter at Grand Canyon University, Vladine says KDP has connected her with educators who motivate her to grow both professionally and personally. Through those relationships, she has been encouraged to reflect on her practice, try new instructional strategies, and stay grounded in what matters most: ...

Turning Anxiety into Resilience: Practical Strategies for Educators

By Samantha Martin posted 06-04-2026
Turning Anxiety into Resilience: Practical Strategies for Educators By : Kayla Sweet In recent years, anxiety among students has become an increasingly visible trend in schools. Conversations about mental health, mindfulness practices, and even designated mental health days are now common parts of educational discourse. Yet many educators continue to ask an important question: are we simply more aware of student anxiety, or are students truly experiencing higher levels of stress that interfere with their ability to learn? Across classrooms in urban, suburban, and rural districts alike, teachers ...