Pi Chapter Executive Board
(Also called "E-board" or "Officers")
President
Rebecca Middleton
Rebecca Middleton has been a member of Kappa Delta Pi since April 2016. Last year, she served as one of our Co-Vice Presidents. Rebecca is currently double majoring in Elementary Education and CI Special Education. She is super excited to student teach this winter! While on the 2017 (link to Service trip page), she learned more about teaching than she ever thought possible; especially the values of trust and positive relationships and how important they are within the classroom. Rebecca presented at the EMU Undergraduate Symposium in March 2017 on women's representation in sports media. She is also one of our Pi Chapter Scholarship Award Recipients! Rebecca is looking forward to presenting at the next Symposium with our VP Maddie on their experiences on the Native trip next spring! She currently works as a substitute teacher and as a caregiver for families who have children with disabilities. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, working out, and crafting. Rebecca likes to use her embroidery machine and crochet. She has completed two half-marathons and hopes to do a third this year. Rebecca also recently started a travel blog about her adventures around the world. She hopes to travel to Costa Rica to see meet a sloth someday soon!
Favorite Picture Book:
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Favorite Picture Book:
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Immediate Past President
Madison Mills
Maddie graduated from Eastern last December (2016) with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Her minors are in Mathematics and Integrated Science. Maddie has been a KDP Pi Chapter member since the Fall of 2014. In addition to having been our President during the 2016-2017 school year, she previously served as the secretary for our chapter as well. Her favorite thing about KDP was becoming involved with other educators and attending the Arizona Native Reservation trip in May 2015. Maddie is currently a 1st grade teacher with Tecumseh Public Schools where she is inspiring and empowering students in a learner centered environment.In her spare time, Maddie enjoys running, spending time with family and saving her memories through scrapbooking.
Favorite Picture Book:
Who Ate It? by Taro Gome
Favorite Picture Book:
Who Ate It? by Taro Gome
Vice President
Maddie Pasini
Maddie (or Maddie Mouse thanks to Dr. J) is a senior at EMU. She is a double major in Elementary Education and Special Education with a focus in Cognitive Impairment. Maddie was initiated into Pi Chapter in the fall of 2016 (one of her best friends convinced her to join!). She especially enjoys the professional development offered, working with fellow educators, and being able to be a part of a teaching community that feels like a family.
Maddie was a member of the Pi Chapter 2017 Service trip to Sacaton, Arizona where she taught in the middle school on the Gila River Native American Reservation. "It's an experience that I am forever grateful for and that I wouldn't change for the world," she said. While there, Maddie learned classroom management techniques, ways to really connect with students, how to build respect in the classroom, and experienced different cultures. She also tried a Navajo taco (delicious), fry bread (YUM), hiked the Grand Canyon, and got to hang out with some of the most amazing educators! Maddie is a substitute teacher. She babysits, nannies, and tutors on the side! In her free time (which is slim), Maddie is a Disney Fan who cheers for the EMU Eagles football team, and loves her 2 cats & 2 dogs! She also enjoys reading, practicing yoga, spending time with her family and friends!
Favorite Picture Books:
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
The Monster at The End of This Book by Jon Stone
I'll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Maddie was a member of the Pi Chapter 2017 Service trip to Sacaton, Arizona where she taught in the middle school on the Gila River Native American Reservation. "It's an experience that I am forever grateful for and that I wouldn't change for the world," she said. While there, Maddie learned classroom management techniques, ways to really connect with students, how to build respect in the classroom, and experienced different cultures. She also tried a Navajo taco (delicious), fry bread (YUM), hiked the Grand Canyon, and got to hang out with some of the most amazing educators! Maddie is a substitute teacher. She babysits, nannies, and tutors on the side! In her free time (which is slim), Maddie is a Disney Fan who cheers for the EMU Eagles football team, and loves her 2 cats & 2 dogs! She also enjoys reading, practicing yoga, spending time with her family and friends!
Favorite Picture Books:
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
The Monster at The End of This Book by Jon Stone
I'll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Secretary
Kassidy Lutz
Kassidy is a senior at EMU, majoring in Elementary Education with minors in Language Arts and Reading. She has been a member of Pi Chapter since the Fall of 2016. She plans on graduating in December of 2018. Kassidy has a passion for education as shown in her work as a Student Athlete Tutor here at EMU and a counselor at Honey Creek Summer Camp in Ann Arbor. Kassidy is also a member of the Honors College and received their Soaring Higher Award. You can always feel free to talk to Kassidy about children's books, the series you are currently binging on Netflix, or the best local places to get coffee.
Favorite Picture Books:
The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Favorite Picture Books:
The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Treasurer
C. J. Snow
Even though C.J. graduated in April 2017, with degrees in Elementary Education and Basket-weaving, he “agreed” to be our Treasurer for one final year only after KDP counselor Kathy Walsh threatened to “eat all the yummy toes” off his year-old daughter, if he didn't. Plus, nobody else wanted the gig. C.J. is the devoted father of the most popular little “Vampire” in KDP—no, he did not name his daughter Vampire, but it was her nickname prior to her real name being chosen. In his spare time C.J. reads picture books, creates amazing playlists, and strolls the streets of Ann Arbor--all with his daughter. When he isn't studying education or caring for his daughter, C.J. trolls Wikipedia pages by inserting “edits” in the form of haiku and enjoys creating new recipes involving SPAM.
Favorite Picture Books:
Journey by Aaron Becker
Elmer by David McKee
Favorite Picture Books:
Journey by Aaron Becker
Elmer by David McKee
Foundation Representatives - Liz Seifert & Brendan Murphy
Liz transferred to EMU from Macomb Community College and is a senior is studying Elementary Education with double minors in Reading and Science. She has a deep passion for both subjects and will one day teach Middle School. She has been a member of Pi Chapter for one year now after being initiated in the Fall of 2016. She has been on the Dean's List four years in a row! Currently, she works for Campus Life as the Transfer Orientation Student Assistant. Additionally, she enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, and anything outdoors - she prefers to be near a lake!
Favorite Picture Book: Harold and the Purple Crayon! by Crockett Johnson |
Brendan is a senior at Eastern Michigan majoring in Elementary Education with a focus in Social Studies. His passion for teaching began during his time coaching middle and elementary school lacrosse. From there, he has gone on to teach ESL with the TaLK program in South Korea. There he volunteered with North Korean refugees. In his spare time Brendan enjoys reading, running, and traveling.
Favorite Picture Book: Flop to the Top by Eleanor Davis |
Membership Chairs - Deanna McDonnell & Emily White
Deanna is a senior at Eastern Michigan University. Her Major is in Elementary Education with Minors in Reading and Language Arts. Her dream job is to be a Reading Specialist. She is active on campus and is in several Education organizations. She loves teaching kids and is a Sunday school leader at her home church. Her favorite animal is a dog. Deanna is a BIG Country Music fan, her favorite band is Home Free. Her hobbies include scrapbooking, swimming, hanging out with friends and Martial Arts. Fun fact Deanna has a Second Degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Favorite Picture Book: Who Ate It? by Taro Gome |
Emily is in her 5th year at Eastern Michigan University pursuing a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She has been on the Dean's List all throughout college and is the recipient of the Emerald and Teachers First scholarships. She currently works at U of M at the Survery Research Center as an Interviewer. For fun she likes to travel Up North with her family, hang out with friends, and pet her dog Lucy!
Favorite Picture Book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff |
Professional Development Chairs - Rayann Marsh & Katie Carlson
Rayann has been in KDP since winter of 2017. She is double majoring in Elementary and Special Education; specializing in Cognitive Impairment. She is also part of the Honors College at Eastern. Rayann works at IXL learning center with all ages but most of her time is split between two year olds and kindergartners. She loves watching football, and cheered throughout high school. She coaches the little league team in her area. Rayann has many interests in the arts including photography, painting, and charcoal drawing. She loves spending time with her family and close friends.
Favorite Picture Books: Stand Tall Melly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Don't Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus by Mo Willems |
Katie has been a member of KDP for a year and will be graduating in April. She is a double major in elementary education and mathematics. She has worked at a preschool in Milford and in an office in Sill Hall for the past three years. During the summer she leads a summer camp for school age kids at the preschool. She's learned to be prepared for anything and have fun while you do it! Katie loves to go on adventures to new places or just driving around with the windows down and the music up.
Favorite Picture Book: Harold and the Purple Crayon! by Crockett Johnson |
Literacy Alive! Coordinator
Devan Wetzel
Devan is a fifth year senior at Eastern Michigan studying Elementary Education and Language Arts. She has been a member of Kappa Delta Pi for one year. Devan is currently working as a sales associate at The Resale Boutique. She served as the Site Coordinator for two years for the nonprofit Mentor2Youth. In her spare time she enjoys dancing, hiking, and watching movies. Devan plans on moving permanently to Golden, Colorado next April to be with her fiancé.
Favorite Picture Books:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
Favorite Picture Books:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
Webmaster
Sarah Jean Meyer
Sarah Jean has been a member of Pi Chapter for 3 and a half years. Her Majors are Elementary Ed and Social Studies Group. She is a Super Senior and finally in her final semester before graduation! Sarah Jean is Student Teaching in a 6th grade classroom! She has previously served as our Vice-President of Pi Chapter and is continuing her role as Webmaster. Sarah Jean is an enthusiastic researcher and has lots of crazy ideas. She went on the Eagles to Eagles 2015 trip to Arizona and worked with an amazing group of fourth graders and their creative and invested teacher. One of her favorite parts was getting to go with the fourth grade to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum! She also loved spending an evening (with Melanie and a few others) looking at Supernovas with a backyard astronomer named Dennis who built his own high-powered telescope. Sarah Jean is a bit of a techy, and in addition to serving as Pi Chapter's webmaster, she has her own website and blog. She collects picture books, crazy hats, and Nativity sets. She is somewhat crafty and creates Peg Dolls that look like real people. When Sarah Jean isn't geeking out over STEAM Stuff, she reads historical romance novels and teacher biographies, plays [nerdy] board games, and participates in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). The SCA is a not-for-profit educational group that researches and recreates aspects of pre-Renaissance Europe. Sarah Jean is known in the SCA as The Honorable Lady SæhildR barngóðR (which is pronounced Sa-hill-derr barn-go-thr). She created and runs an event for families called It Takes My Child to Raze a Village. When Sarah Jean grows up, she'd like to write picture books.
Favorite Picture Books:
Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
Susan Laughs by Jeanne Willis
Jessica by Kevin Henkes