Debbie Kuether

About Debbie Kuether

I have had the pleasure of serving as a master educator for over twenty five years (in a variety of roles) from initial educator support to master educator mentor in a large urban district. I have a strong desire for constant professional growth and development. Recently, I earned my Ph.D. in Urban Education, my dissertation is titled “A Pulse on Language Equity in First Grade Urban Classrooms” and can be accessed here: & submissionId=821886 & timeSent=16••••••71 & destination=etdlist & checksum=515727B5D8FA902715A594B964239AE037F48••••55C94CA8A6CCB1889FDF80EI have high expectations for those that I work with and for (colleagues and students), and I strive to communicate effectively and efficiently in order to work collaboratively towards the common goal. I believe that there are no quick fixes or short cuts and I do not shy away from the real work and \"heavy lifting\". I keep grounded in the real day to day processes and applications as it is an essential part of being a true facilitator of change and “making it happen” (Wagner & Keagan, 2006). Type I or intrinsic motivation drives my work and I excel in environments that allow for autonomy, mastery and purpose (Pink, 2011). I am focused on development and delivery of the finest product possible accompanied by high quality customized customer service to fully support successful implementation every step of the way. It is important to provide support in the real world setting and I am able to troubleshoot and navigate through a variety of possible circumstances. My areas of interest and expertise are research, data, real-world application, problem-solving and professional learning communities (for adults and students). Systems thinking, academic discourse and dialogue, and pushing beyond the status quo are highly valued tenets (Pink, 2011). I refuse to engage in deficit thinking and I strive to emulate the practices associated with the growth mindset. I know that there is an opportunity to grow all learners-educators and students. I am extremely motivated to make lasting change and a meaningful impact on teaching and learning for educators and the children that we serve.

Experience

1. District Reading Curriculum Specialist

   Milwaukee Public Schools

   Jul 2013 — Present

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  Ph.D. , Urban Education/Administrative Leadership

  2014 — 2020

• National Louis University

  Master of Education (M.Ed.), Curriculum and Instruction

  1995 — 1999

• Concordia University-Wisconsin

  Reading Specialist, Masters Degree in Reading Education

  2012 — 2013

• Concordia University-Wisconsin

  Director of Curriculum/Supervision, Educational Leadership and Administration, General

  2013 — 2015

• National Board of Professional Teaching Standards

  Board Certified Early Childhood Generalist, Early Childhood Education and Teaching (Renewed 2014)

  2002 — 2014

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  Elementary Education Minor in English Language Arts, Elementary Education and Teaching

  1990 — 1993