Founders Day Celebration 2026

Dr. Rick Breault is someone who reminds us that Kappa Delta Pi isn’t just something you join—it’s something you live. He was initiated into the Delta Epsilon Chapter at Northern Illinois University in 1986 as a doctoral student, after first serving as an elementary and middle school teacher in the Chicago area. And from the very beginning, his KDP story has been rooted in a deep commitment to educators at every stage—teacher candidates, classroom teachers, and scholars alike.

Over the years, Dr. Breault’s career in higher education has taken him across institutions of every type—from small liberal arts colleges to research universities—spanning eight states, along with global experiences as a Fulbright Scholar and invited educator in Central and Eastern Europe and China. But no matter the location, his focus has stayed consistent: teaching and research that strengthen the profession and open doors for future educators.

What makes Dr. Breault’s journey especially meaningful is how intentionally he has aligned his scholarship with the spirit of KDP members—curious, reflective, and community-minded. His teaching has been recognized at the institutional level and nationally, and long before advising doctoral students of his own, he created opportunities for preservice teachers to conduct and present research—often as co-researchers—so they could see themselves as contributors to the field, not just newcomers to it.

Dr. Breault speaks about scholarship as more than a professional achievement—it’s personal development, service, and growth all braided together. He strives to keep multiple kinds of projects active at once: a central research agenda, ongoing self-study of teaching practices, explorations of personal interests, and—importantly—those “serendipitous” opportunities that often come through KDP relationships and conversations. His interests have even led him to explore educational questions through the lenses of theology and the arts—bringing fresh insight and humanity into the work.

And then there’s the KDP-specific impact: Dr. Breault has contributed to KDP’s Life Cycle of the Career Teacher project; supported Experiencing Dewey, a collection of reflections from both scholars and classroom teachers on John Dewey; served on Convocation panels; and more recently, helped surface insights from historic KDP lectures spanning 1929 into the 1970s—honoring the legacy of those who built this organization while strengthening the path forward for today’s members. He was inducted into the Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter in 2021.

In every season of his career, Dr. Breault has modeled what it means to be a KDP member: to learn continuously, to elevate others, and to use KDP as a community that turns ideas into action—for teachers, for students, and for the future of education.

About the Dr. Truman L. Kelley Award for Scholarship Excellence

The Dr. Truman L. Kelley Award for Scholarship Excellence is given to an individual who has demonstrated a sustained effort in scholarship excellence within KDP and the education profession at the local, national, or global level.

Dr. Truman L. Kelley lived from 1884 to 1961 and was instrumental in the founding of KDP. He was a noted scholar who made an impact on American education through his work in statistics and education. He also had an interest in the sciences and psychology.

Dr. Susan Trostle Brand, Professor Emerita of Education at the University of Rhode Island, is highly honored, and she is also humbled, to receive this William C. Bagley Leadership Award! Dr. Brand holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, literacy and reading specialist degrees from West Virginia University, and a doctoral degree from Pennsylvania State University. She has been an elementary and primary grade teacher and supervisor of teachers for over 50 years. Dr. Brand is the author of four textbooks and numerous chapters and professional articles. As a 32-year leader in KDP, it is incredible to recall how much KDP has impacted Dr. Brand! She would like to describe her more than three decades of membership and leadership: 

In her first decade as a KDP member, Dr. Brand realized the unmet potential of the University of Rhode Island’s Iota Sigma chapter. Although her chapter attained rather large initiation numbers each spring, only five or so members were actively engaged in the chapter when Dr. Brand first learned about KDP at her university. Dr. Brand decided to definitively change that level of engagement when, in 1992, she became the chapter counselor.

Along with KDP officers and members, Dr. Brand planned annual Martin Luther King Jr. Campus Celebrations inviting hundreds of middle school students from urban schools. Everyone braved the frigid New England winter weather to enjoy campus tours and, later, join the URI faculty and KDP members at our campus Multicultural Student Services Center to celebrate the peace-making efforts of this great Civil Rights leader. Dr. Brand also organized two KDP mission trips for KDP members and their families—one to Costa Rica and one to Lima, Peru. The chapter became active in conducting Educational Forums and hosting other KDP chapters at URI campus conferences. Next came Career Fairs, and urban school makeovers, one of which was later featured in the New York Times. It never ceased to amaze Dr. Brand how so many wonderful members and officers were drawn to the positive energy and mission of KDP!  She fully believes in the quote by Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

In her second decade of KDP leadership, KDP recognized Dr. Brand’s community and national leadership efforts and the fact that Dr. Brand increased chapter membership from approximately 8 members to over 80 members. Dr. Brand was subsequently awarded the Lucinda Rose Counselor Award at KDP Convocation in 2007. Dr. Brand was also elected as National Vice-President and then President-Elect of KDP. Following her four years of national leadership, Dr. Brand remained very active in KDP and in her community as a leader. She conducted gender-affirming workshops and became a regional, state, and national presenter. She also became a Board Member for the Transgender Youth Equality Foundation in Portland, Maine, where she devoted one of her sabbatical leaves to working with transgender youth. Dr. Brand became a Population Education Trainer for the US Government, promoting sustainability among college students, teachers, and administrators throughout her state and the nation. Dr. Brand served on her university’s Faculty Senate on the Curriculum Affairs Committee for four years—two of these years serving as chairperson. She led a KDP URI faculty and student mission trip to the Nambale Magnet School in Western Kenya in 2020, where she and several other KDP travelers donated two dozen iPads to the children at the school and conducted teacher workshops addressing use of the KDP website. While at this Kenyan Magnet School, Dr. Brand and her URI colleagues also inducted several Kenyan teachers into KDP.

In her third decade and beyond, Dr. Brand completed 32 years as a KDP counselor at the University of Rhode Island before her retirement in 2024. She was appointed a KDP United Nations Representative. She has attended several United Nations meetings, both virtually and in New York City. She is also an active member of two UN committees, the Committee on Teaching About the UN and the KDP UN Task Force. In 2023, along with a URI colleague, Dr. Brand received a state of Rhode Island grant to initiate a new program that allows non-traditional-aged teachers to complete what they started and earn teaching certifications. As Dr. Brand testifies, “The power of life-long learning can never be over-rated!” In 2017, Dr. Brand was inducted into the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter of KDP and, recently, at URI, received the Lifetime Service Society Membership Award for her 40 years as a faculty member at her university. Along with two colleagues, Dr. Brand is now writing her fifth textbook. This textbook addresses the UN sustainability goals and, along with another UN representative, she is preparing a 2026 KDP webinar on this important topic.

In summary, along with thousands of other thoughtful, committed KDP citizens, Dr. Brand is doing her part to change the world. Dr. Brand encourages all KDP members to recognize and capitalize on the enormous power of Kappa Delta Pi in providing the unyielding and inspiring foundation for their success. KDP has certainly provided this unwavering foundation for Dr. Brand’s career—and for her life—for over 30 years! 

About the Dr. William C. Bagley Award for Leadership Excellence

The Dr. William C. Bagley Award for Leadership Excellence is given to an individual who has demonstrated a sustained effort in leadership excellence within KDP and the education profession at the local, national, or global level.

Dr. William C. Bagley, who lived from 1874 to 1946, founded KDP in 1911. He was committed to the growth and strengthening of KDP throughout his life. He also established the University of Illinois’ School of Education, focusing his career on educating teachers and developing curriculum for the education of teachers.

A 2025 graduate of Vanderbilt University, Nicholas McCoy earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Child Studies with minors in Anthropology and American Studies. Graduating with honors from Peabody College of Education and Human Development, he reflects on his time at Vanderbilt as truly transformative—both professionally and personally.

“My growth at Vanderbilt was fueled by enduring friendships, inspiring professors, and an incredible cohort of future educators — each bringing their own perspective to the art and practice of teaching,” he remarked. “I like to think of myself as a patchwork of the distinctive pedagogies and passions they shared.”

As an active member of KDP’s Alpha Pi Chapter, Mr. McCoy helped create a welcoming space where education majors could belong, collaborate, and grow together. He served as chapter president for the past 2 years and led the chapter to being recognized as a 2025 Achieving Chapter Excellence Award recipient. His experiences in Metro Nashville Public Schools—teaching 4th and 5th grade at Eakin Elementary and Harpeth Valley Elementary—gave him a strong foundation for supporting diverse learners. One of his most memorable projects involved teaching social studies through the lens of World War II propaganda comic books, blending art, literacy, and history in a way that sparked creativity and critical thinking in his students.

Now, Mr. McCoy brings that same energy and thoughtfulness to his own classroom as a 4th-grade teacher at Countryside Elementary School in Barrington, Illinois. He continues to shape a nurturing, inclusive environment for his students—a dream made more attainable with support from KDP’s J. Jay Hostetler Scholarship.

 “Teaching has always been part of my story,” Mr. McCoy says. “Coming from generations of educators—both inside and outside the classroom—I am proud to carry that tradition forward through my own work with students.”

April Fletcher has devoted her career to strengthening the teaching profession through KDP and teacher preparation at Eastern Illinois University. An instructor of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education, she joined EIU’s undergraduate faculty in 2000 after beginning her career in Illinois schools as a junior high mathematics teacher. A proud alumna of Eastern Illinois University, Ms. Fletcher earned both her BS (1992) and MS (1998) in Elementary Education there and later pursued doctoral studies in Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana State University (ABD).

Ms. Fletcher is best known for her extraordinary chapter leadership and steady, member-centered commitment to KDP. She served as the Chapter Counselor of EIU’s Beta Psi Chapter for 25 years, creating meaningful opportunities for future educators to connect, lead, and grow through KDP. During her tenure, she helped ensure that KDP was more than a line on a résumé—it was a professional home where members could build confidence, develop leadership, and step fully into their identity as educators.

In the classroom and across the profession, Ms. Fletcher championed the practices that help teachers thrive: strong instructional strategies, literacy across content areas, student social–emotional development, and purposeful technology integration. Her teaching portfolio reflects this commitment through courses such as Teaching and Learning with Technology in Classrooms, The Whole Child, Instructional Strategies for the Elementary Classroom, and Content Area Reading at the elementary and middle grade levels.

Beyond KDP, she also served in key professional roles with the Illinois Reading Council and the International Literacy Association, while contributing widely through presentations and service. Ms. Fletcher retired in December 2025, leaving a legacy of faithful service to KDP and a lasting impact on the educators she mentored and the KDP community she helped build.

Dr. Deepti Kharod joined KDP in 2003 as a preservice teacher in the Omicron Chi Chapter at the University of Texas at San Antonio. As an elementary teacher, KDP’s journals and web-based resources helped Dr. Kharod grow in skills, knowledge, and confidence. Her efforts received recognition including Teacher of the Year at Rose Garden Elementary and the South Central Texas Communities in Schools Champion for Kids.

She reconnected with the Omicron Chi chapter in 2013 while pursuing her PhD in Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching. During that period, she received KDP’s O.L. Davis, Jr. Laureate Scholarship for Doctoral Studies, which supported her dissertation research about preschoolers’ caring behaviors at a nature-based school.

Since 2018, Dr. Kharod has served as a faculty member in the Dreeben School of Education’s Teacher Education program at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW). In April 2021, she became the founding chapter counselor for UIW’s Alpha Kappa Omicron chapter and has enjoyed supporting preservice teachers in their service and leadership endeavors.

Dr. Crystal Mallett has been a member of KDP since 2002, proudly serving as president of the Gamma Phi chapter at Northwestern State University when it won its first and only ACE Award in 2005.

She is a two-time recipient of a Kappa Delta Pi Classroom Teacher Grant, a KDP Teacher of Honor, a former Chapter Services committee member and Literacy Alive! reviewer, an author of two KDP publications, and a convocation presenter many times.

Additionally, she was named Department of Louisiana Educator of the Year by the American Legion (2015) and earned National Board certification (2013) and maintenance of certification (2023) in Early Adolescent English Language Arts. She is currently the assistant principal at Rapides High School, focusing primarily on curriculum, instruction, and accountability.

Dr. Barbara Meyer is an Associate Professor in the School of Teaching & Learning at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. She has served as either counselor or co-counselor for fifteen years. 

She was inducted into KDP as a student into Lambda Gamma Chapter when she was completing her Master of Arts in Teaching Program at the University of Memphis. She was a high school Spanish teacher in Memphis, Tennessee.

As a KDP member, she served on the International Committee and the Board of Directors, and she currently serves on the Community Membership Action Team to promote and support growth and activity in KDP. 

Dr. Meyer’s primary teaching responsibilities focus on Secondary Teacher Education, and her research focuses on laboratory schools and clinical field experiences.

Laurie Ann Ross was first introduced to KDP when she was inducted as a junior at Montclair State College in New Jersey, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Sciences, and Disorders. Her affiliation with KDP continued as she pursued a master’s degree in education from William Paterson College in New Jersey, followed by a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Administration and Supervision from the State University of New York at Cortland. Her career path focused on working with children with developmental disabilities as a speech and language therapist and special education teacher for students in grades preschool through high school.

The last 30 years of her career focused on working as a school administrator with regional school officials from multiple districts and counties in central New York State, overseeing and assisting in the development and implementation of programs and services that exemplified best practices for assisting children and young adults in reaching their full potential. Her dedication to students, families, and community has been evident since 1989 in her role as one of the main organizers for the regional Special Olympics Games.

Ms. Ross’ role with KDP expanded after a phone call from a representative at National Headquarters. That dialogue resulted in an opportunity to become a member of the Communications Committee, working with other members of the organization from across the country for the purpose of enhancing the role of KDP and the information to be distributed to members.  

Ms. Ross then increased her role with KDP by accepting an offer to research and select resources for use by education administrators, via monthly newsletters, and to assist with providing answers to specific questions posed by members of the organization. Her respect for KDP grew even more after meeting the core team at the National Office in Indiana for a team-building weekend.

Ms. Ross fully retired in June 2025 after a career that spanned 44 years, 37 of those at the Madison–Oneida Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in Verona, New York.

Chris Beaman, CAE, CFRE, has been a dedicated member of KDP since 2009, when he was initiated into the Gamma Nu Chapter at Butler University. As a student, he served as Chapter Secretary and President, igniting a passion for KDP’s mission that has only grown throughout his career. After graduation, Chris joined KDP’s National Office staff, where he spent nearly nine years in leadership roles, including Chief Communications & Partnerships Officer, that ultimately earned him the first-ever Executive Staff Leadership Award. During his time at the National Office, he played a pivotal role in strengthening chapter engagement, enhancing the member experience, and elevating KDP’s brand visibility. His leadership drove record-breaking fundraising campaigns, expanded partnerships, and launched initiatives that continue to shape KDP’s impact today.  

Beyond KDP, Chris has built a distinguished career in association management. He is currently serving as Chief of Staff for Sigma Nursing (formerly Sigma Theta Tau), where he focuses on aligning strategic priorities across the organization; accelerating high-impact initiatives that serve their global community; strengthening cross-functional collaboration and operational excellence; and championing a culture of trust, transparency, and inclusion. Recognized as a 2023 Forty Under 40 honoree by Association Forum and 2022 Volunteer of the Year by the Indiana Society of Association Executives, he is a respected leader in the nonprofit sector. His commitment to education and professional development extends through board service on two local youth-serving organizations, mentorship, and industry contributions, ensuring organizations thrive through innovation and sustainability. With deep-rooted experience in membership engagement, fundraising, and strategic planning, Chris is dedicated to advancing KDP’s mission and empowering educators for generations to come. 

When Chris isn’t working toward the betterment of society through associations and nonprofits, he enjoys traveling the world and spending time with his husband, Jeremy. A huge fan of Reba McEntire, he never misses an opportunity to see her perform live. He also loves playing board games and card games, especially when spending time with friends and family—his niece and nephews keep him on his toes! At home, Chris and Jeremy share their space with two beloved cats, Gina and Blaze, who add plenty of personality (and mischief) to their daily lives.

Tonja joined KDP in June 2020 as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to collaboratively lead KDP with the Board of Directors, members, and staff into a new era of teaching excellence. For over 25 years Tonja has successfully led national, statewide, and local-based nonprofit organizations in education, youth, and human services.

She was one of the first 100 people in America to earn a master’s degree with a concentration in nonprofit management in the 1990s. Other credentials include being an AAiP (Association Artificial Intelligence Professional); CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive), CAE (Certified Association Executive) and CMFC (Certified Master Financial Coach).

She has received multiple leadership honors, including being named as a Forty Under 40 leader by the Indianapolis Business Journal and a Robert Skip Walsh Memorial Award by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as an outstanding mentor and role model for staff. Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) has recognized Tonja with the Distinguished Liberal Arts Alumni Service Award, the Glen W. Irwin Experience Excellence Award for service beyond the call of duty, the Maynard K. Hine Medal as the highest IU alumni honor, and the Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

Upon receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1990, Tonja founded the IUI Student Mentor Program, which became the nationally renowned Bepko Learning Center. Annually, the “Tonja Eagan Mentor Service Award” is granted to an outstanding faculty mentor. As a philanthropist, Tonja established an IUI Mentor Impact Endowment Fund with the IU Foundation to support student peer mentoring. As a former adjunct faculty member, Tonja taught undergraduate courses at IUI, Ivy Tech Community College, and Ball State University.

In volunteer roles, Tonja serves as a member of the FBI Citizens Alumni Academy, Impact 100 Women’s Philanthropy, Finance Committee of her HOA, and mentor to several youth, men, and women. Her favorite things to do are pontoon boating, playing with her dogs and cats, listening to live music, and being with her husband, Frank.

Dr. Angela Goodloe joined KDP in 2007 and remains committed to its mission to inspire and equip teachers to thrive in today’s diverse classrooms.

Her journey as a classroom teacher has led her from the west to east coast of the United States to international settings in both Kenya and Spain. She has also served in educational leadership roles in the private and public sectors. She continues to review the education parity between recruitment and retention and published articles toward this goal. Her research pursuit promotes the integration of administration leadership, social justice, and diversity.

Dr. Goodloe earned a doctorate in Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She holds an Administration and Supervision K–12 license and a Division Superintendent license from the Virginia Department of Education. She has also earned a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. She uses her credentials and skills to advocate for educators and to promote equity in schools and educational organizations.

Dr. Misty Hathcock is a fifth-generation educator from Wadesboro, North Carolina, and a five-time graduate from UNC Charlotte.

She received her BA in Intermediate Education, MED in Instructional Systems Technology, MA in School Administration, CAS in Educational Leadership, and EdD in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction. For 11 years, Misty was an elementary/middle grades teacher, administrator, and beginning teacher coordinator in Anson County Schools.

In 1998, Dr. Hathcock followed her passion for working with beginning teachers and became a faculty member of UNC Charlotte’s College of Education as the first full-time Director of the NC Teaching Fellows Program. Dr. Hathcock, a Clinical Professor in the Reading and Elementary Education Department, served as Regional Director for the NC New Teacher Support Program, Director of Alumni Engagement, and student teaching supervisor for the Cato College of Education. Dr. Hathcock served on several university boards in leadership roles such as President of the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Past Presidents Council; Counselor for KDP; and Treasurer for Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. 

For her work and service to schools, Hathcock is the recipient of the Bonnie Cone Lifetime Achievement Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association, Southeast Counselor of the Year by KDP, and the Public Service Award from the Southwest Education Alliance. Dr. Hathcock is a Clinical Professor Emerita of UNC Charlotte, Cato College of Education.

As the Chief Experience Officer for KDP, Christopher oversees the Member Experience Team. He has been working with nonprofit organizations and associations for more than 25 years in various capacities from marketing, fundraising, and event planning to membership, resource development, and program operations.

His career began in graphic design because of the encouragement from his high school art teacher. Her belief in him sparked his college education and a successful career in publishing prior to transitioning to helping organizations. During his downtime, Christopher enjoys restoring antique toys and spending time with his wife and kids.