Dr. Kara Kavanagh: Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor
Early, Elementary & Reading Education

Academic Degrees:
Ph.D. Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Cognate: Teacher Development and Urban/Multicultural Education, Georgia State University
M.Ed. Early Childhood Education, Armstrong Atlantic State University
B.A. Psychology, George Mason University

Research and Teaching Interests:
Teacher Education and Development, Urban/Critical Multicultural Education and Policy P-20+, New teachers navigating the micropolitical contexts of urban schools (ie. testing, scripted programs, reforms), Social Justice

Professional involvement
American Education Research Association, National Association of Multicultural Educators

Professional Experience
Taught 3rd-5th grades
Coached/supervised/mentored beginning teachers, interns, and student teachers since 2007
Taught various undergraduate and graduate courses since 2007

Courses taught at JMU:
ELED 310 Diversity in Elementary Education
ELED 641 Families, Schools, and Communities

Courses taught at GSU:
ECE 3255 Cultural Foundations of Early Childhood Education
ECE 3255 ESOL Cultural Foundations of Early Childhood Education
ECE 8400 Teacher Development
ECE 6360 Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
ECE 6361 Responsive and Student Centered Pedagogy
ECE 7576 Teacher Inquiry for Critical Change
ECE 7575 Induction Teachers as Change Agents I
ECE 7585 Induction Teachers as Change Agents II
ECE 6586 Advocating for Students through the Descriptive Review of the Child
ECE 6575 Beginning Teachers of Record as Reflective Practitioners I
ECE 6585 Beginning Teachers of Record as Reflective Practitioners Practicum II
ECE 8680 Internship in Early Childhood Education