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Executive Director | Educator | Author | International Lecturer
Executive Director | Educator | Author | International Lecturer
Email: fishmanweaverk@missouri.edu
Twitter: @kfishmanweaver
Kathryn Fishman-Weaver serves as the Executive Director of Mizzou Academy. She began her teaching career as a special education teacher for a public K-8 school in Oakland, CA. Since then, Dr. Fishman-Weaver has taught and led programs in special education, gifted education, English language arts, and teacher preparation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s degree in Special Education, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. She is the author of three books in education, Wholehearted Teaching of Gifted Young Women (2018), When Your Child Learns Differently (2019), and Brain-Based Learning with Gifted Students (2020). She has a two new books under contract; the first, co-authored with Stephanie Walter explores culture and connection in the blended classroom, and the second, co-authored with Jill Clingan, offers middle and high school educators classroom resources for teaching Women's and Gender Studies.
Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver’s work has appeared in numerous publications and been referenced by the U.S. Department of Education. She supports the University of Missouri’s teacher education program by coordinating required courses on culturally responsive teaching and the Honors College in advisory work with the Missouri Scholars Academy. Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, she served for five years as the Director of Academic Affairs and Engagement for Mizzou Academy during a period of rapid international growth. She has lectured and led professional development sessions around the world.
Dr. Fishman-Weaver is an avid local volunteer on issues of food insecurity and youth advocacy. She serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for youth in foster care and a regular volunteer at the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.
Executive Director, Mizzou Academy
College of Education and Human Development
Fall 2020 - Present
Mizzou Academy is a nationally accredited online/blended school at the University of Missouri, the only such program in the nation embedded in a research-intensive College of Education and Human Development. With a dedication to expanding access to excellent courses and educational solutions for students locally and globally, Mizzou Academy currently serves over 7,000 students in all 50 U.S. states and 40+ countries worldwide.
Learn more about Mizzou Academy's values, programs, and impact here!
Education
Education
Ph.D. Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis: University of Missouri (Emphasis: PK-12 Educational Leadership)
Degree Awarded: December 2015
Dissertation: Wholehearted Affective Education: A Feminist Framework for Cultivating Courage, Connection, and Self-Care in the College Transition
Research Interests: school culture and leadership, neurodiversity, and alternative service delivery models
Masters in K-12 Special Education: San Francisco State University
Degree Awarded: May 2009 (Graduated with Departmental Honors)
Master's Thesis: Tutoring as an Intervention for the Tutor: Leadership Models for At-Risk Students
Bachelors of Science in Sociology: University of Missouri (Minors in English Writing and Women and Gender Studies)
Degree Awarded: May 2004 (Graduated cum laude with an honor's certificate, departmental honors and initiation into Phi Beta Kappa)
Received numerous University scholarships and awards
Honors Thesis: The Politics of Image Control: An Investigation of College Women's Experiences
Professional Experiences - Higher Education
Professional Experiences - Higher Education
Executive Director | 2020-Present
Mizzou Academy | A Global School System
University of Missouri High School, Mizzou Middle School, Mizzou Elementary School
7,000+ middle and high school students from 40+ countries of origin
2,500 students in elementary from local and international partner schools
University of Missouri, College of Education
Director of Academic Affairs and Engagement | 2015-2020
Mizzou Academy | A Global School System
University of Missouri High School, Mizzou Middle School, Mizzou Elementary School
7,000+ students from 25+ countries
University of Missouri, College of Education
Course Coordinator | 2019- present
University of Missouri
College of Education: Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum
Supervise and coordinate all sections of the required pre-service teacher education course: Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I
Adjunct Professor | 2016- present
University of Missouri
College of Education and Honors College
4060/7060 Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis: Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I
2040 Learning Teaching and Curriculum: Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I
1030 Honors College: Making Waves (Storytelling for Social Justice)
Instructor | 2013-2015
University of Missouri
College of Education
1100 LTC: Orientation to Teaching
2040 LTC: Introduction to Schools, Community and Society I
Graduate Research Assistant | 2013-2015
University of Missouri
Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
College Planning Advisor for Gifted Students | 2011-2015
Rock Bridge High School, Columbia MO
New Teacher Instructor and Fellow Advisor | 2008
Oakland Teaching Fellows Oakland, CA
Professional Experiences - K-12
Professional Experiences - K-12
High School Courses Taught:
Academic Lab (SPED)
English 9 (online)
English 12 (online)
English 12 Honors (online)
Gifted Education, Seminars and Internships (Service Learning)
Gifted Education, Internships
Gifted Education, Advisory
Literacy Seminar (reading intervention)
World Literature
Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition
Mathematics, Self-Contained Pre-Algebra (SPED)
Personal Finance (online)
Personal Finance, Self-Contained (SPED)
Media Literacy (online)
Research and Scientific Writing (blended)*
*Original course design
K-12 Titles Held:
Division Chair for Gifted Education | 2011-2015
Rock Bridge High School
Columbia Public Schools, MO
Public Literacy Teacher | 2015-2016
Missouri Scholars Academy
University of Missouri, Columbia
Volunteer Coordinator | 2012-2015
Rock Bridge Reaches Out, Rock Bridge High School
Columbia Public Schools, MO
Language Arts Teacher | 2010-2012
Rock Bridge High School
Columbia Public Schools, MO
High School Learning Specialist | 2009-2010
Rock Bridge High School
Columbia Public Schools, MO
Special Education program founder and teacher leader | 2006-2009
Early Elementary SPED Program at ASCEND K-8 School
Oakland Unified School District, CA
Selected Publications
Selected Publications
Books
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2018)Wholehearted Teaching of Gifted Young Women: Cultivating Courage, Connection, and Self-Care in Schools, Prufrock Academic Press, Waco, TX.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2019)When Your Child Learns Differently: A Family Approach for Navigating Special Education Services with Love and High-Expectations, Prufrock Press, Waco, TX.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2020) Brain-Based Learning in the Gifted Classroom (Grades 3-6): How Neuroscience can help us Cultivate Curiosity, Plasticity, Metacognition, Empathy, and Wellbeing, Prufrock Press, Waco, TX.
Fishman-Weaver, K. & Walter, S (Forthcoming 2022) Connected Teaching: How a People-Centered Approach Can Transform Teaching, Solution Tree, Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN
Fishman-Weaver, K. & Clingan, J. (Forthcoming 2023) Teaching Women's & Gender Studies: Classroom Resources on Resistance, Representation, and Radical Hope (Grades 6-12), Routledge
Peer Reviewed
Fishman-Weaver, K. (March 2018) School as a Community Project, Principal Leadership. Reston, VA
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2017) Three Reasons to Plan an Advocacy Field Trip, In J. Danielan’s Teaching Gifted Children: Success Strategies for Teaching High-Ability Learners (Chapter 3) Prufrock Press, Waco, TX.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (March 2017) The Most Important Word in School Leadership, Principal Leadership. Reston, VA
Fishman-Weaver, K. (March 2017) A Call to Praxis: Using Gendered Organizational Theory to Center Radical Hope in Schools. The Journal of Organizational Theory in Education.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (September 2016) Ethical Opportunities for Decision Making, Core Values in School Leadership. Principal Leadership.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (May 2016) Forgiveness, A Cheat Code for Leadership, New York Academy of Public Education Professional Journal.
Crawford, E.R., & Fishman-Weaver, K. (April 2015). Proximity and Policy: Negotiating safe spaces between immigration policy and school practice. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2015) Gifted Education as Safe Space: An Equal Opportunity Model, American Journal of Education Forum
This piece was picked up by the US Department of Education as recommend reading in their April 2, 2015 Teacher Edition newsletter.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2015) Three Reasons to Plan an Advocacy Field Trip, Teaching for High Potential Quality Classroom Practice for High Ability Students Winter pp.10-12.
This article was picked up for re-publication in GAMbit, Gifted Association of Missouri Newsletter (Spring, 2015)Fishman-Weaver, K. (2014) The Continued Importance of High School Personnel's Support in the High School-to-College Transition, American Journal of Education Forum
This piece was picked up by the US Department of Education as recommend reading in their July 10, 2014 Teacher Edition newsletter.Fishman-Weaver, K. (2013) Learning across the continuum: Collaborative projects for Gifted Education and Special Education Classrooms, American Journal of Education Forum
Fishman-Weaver, K. Passing Notes in Class: Using note writing to promote compassionate student relationships, July 2013 in the American Journal of Education Forum
Edutopia Contributor - George Lucas Educational Foundation
Fishman-Weaver, K. and Walter S. (2021) 5 Steps to Center Student Wellness During School Reentry. Edutopia
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2020) Building a Better Bookshelf for School Leaders. Edutopia
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2020) 6 Ways to Transition IEP Goals to Remote Learning. Edutopia
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2019) How to Audit your Classroom Library for Diversity Edutopia
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2019) How Creating Visual Arts Contributes to SEL Edutopia
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2018) Practicing Community-Based Leadership Edutopia
Book Reviews
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2014) Black School, White School: Racism and Educational (Mis) Leadership by Jeffrey Brooks, International Journal of Multicultural Education 16(1)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2015) Fire in the Ashes: Twenty Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America by Jonathan Kozol, Educational Studies
Refereed National Conference Proceedings
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2014) Reconceptualizing Motherhood, Poetry and Praxis within a Feminist Framework, "SEW@AESA-Re-conceptualizing Diversity: Engaging with Histories, Theories, Practices, and Discursive Strategies of/for Educating Women and Girls in Global Contexts" (Toronto: Society for Educating Women, 2014)
Other Publications
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2018) Reflections from the Principal of an Online High School, Columbia Missourian.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2018) Cultivating Home in our Classrooms, Columbia Missourian.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2016) Ethical Opportunities for Decision Making, Core Values in School Leadership, Principal Leadership
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2014) Researcher as Artist; Artist as Researcher, GAMbit(Gifted Association of Missouri)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2014) Learning Across the Continuum: Collaborative Projects for Gifted Education and Special Education Classrooms, GAMbit(Gifted Association of Missouri)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2013) Community Service as a Teaching Method for the Secondary Gifted Classroom, GAMbit (Gifted Association of Missouri)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2013) The Overlooked Importance of a Peer Group: empowerment counseling for secondary gifted girls, GAMbit (Gifted Association of Missouri)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2013) Tiptoeing on the Precipice: College Counseling for Gifted Youth Pursuing Select Colleges, GAMbit (Gifted Association of Missouri)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2012) The f(be) Practicing Mindfulness in the Gifted Classroom, GAMbit (Gifted Association of Missouri)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2012) Games and Laughter in The Gifted Classroom the intersections of play and learning in secondary gifted programming, GAMbit (Gifted Association of Missouri)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2009) Sustenance in the Classroom: collecting recipes in a special education class in Oakland, CA, The Education Report, Katy Murphy's Blog on Oakland Schools
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2005) Preparing for Mars: Reflections on Nikki Giovanni, The Missouri Review Blog
Selected Presentations
Selected Presentations
Keynotes and Featured Presentations
Fishman-Weaver, K. (October 2021) Brain-Based Learning, An Interactive Neuroscience Lab Gifted Association of Missouri, State-Wide Zoom session for students and educators
Fishman-Weaver, K. (October 2019) Visiting Scholar, Engineering Department, Washington University in St. Louis
Fishman-Weaver, K. (October 2019) Closing Keynote: Cultivating Courage, Connection, and Self-Care in the Gifted Classroom, Gifted Association of Missouri, St. Louis, MO
Fishman-Weaver, K. (April 2019) Wholehearted Approaches to Gifted Education. Keynote, Texas Association of Gifted and Talented Leadership Conference. Austin, TX
Selected Academic and Practitioner Presentations
Fishman-Weaver, K. and Stuhlman, B. (October 2019) Action Research: Nurturing Engagement, Agency, and Voice, Gifted Association of Missouri, St. Louis, MO
Fishman-Weaver, K. (April 2019) Thinking Past the Page: Making Literature Matter in the Gifted Classroom, Texas Association of Gifted and Talented Leadership Conference. Austin, TX
Fishman-Weaver, K. (November 2018) Wholehearted Teaching: A New Framework for Affective Education Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented: giftED2018. Fort Worth. TX
Fishman-Weaver, K. (July 2018) Wholehearted Learning, Missouri Scholars Academy, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (November 2016) Praxis and Potential, A Co-Researcher’s Story: Considering Resistant Imaginaries in our Research Designs. National Women’s Studies Association Annual Conference. Montréal, Québec.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (November 2016) Storyteller as Student Activist: Student Researchers use Radio Storytelling to Spark Community Dialogue, American Educational Studies Association Meeting. Seattle, WA. (Reviewer's Choice)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (April 2016) Wholehearted Affective Education: Working with young women in the transition between high school and college. American Educational Research Association (AERA) Washington D.C.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (November 12, 2015) Praxis & Potential, Practitioner Projects in PK-12 Schools: Engaging in Participatory Action Research with Students Communities, A Workshop. American Educational Studies Association. San Antonio, Texas
Fishman-Weaver, K. (October 23, 2015) Compassionate College Counseling. Gifted Association of Missouri Conference (GAM). University of Missouri-Columbia.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (February 28, 2015) A Masked Affective Crisis: High Achieving High School Girls in the High School to College Transition Women and Gender Studies Conference, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. with high school student researchers, Kristine Cho, Jenna Liu, Kat Sarafianos, Rebecca Wells, and Michele Yang (February 13, 2015) The State of Feminism: Public High School Case Study, Women and Gender Studies Symposium, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (February 6th, 2015) Empowerment Counseling: Addressing the Affective Needs of Gifted High School Girls. Institute for the Development of Gifted Education, University of Denver. Denver, CO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (author and symposium chair), Douglas, T (discussant), Aguayo, D, Kateman, M, Kyrooe, J, and Won, S Convergent Storytelling: Constructing Collaborative Racial Autobiographies to Interrogate Multi-Narratives in Educational Leadership, American Educational Studies Association Annual Meeting and The International Association of Intercultural Initiatives Conference, Toronto, Canada, October 29-Nov 2, 2014
Fishman-Weaver, K (November 1, 2014) Reconceptualizing Motherhood, Poetry and Praxis within a Feminist Framework at Society for Educating Women - Re-conceptualizing Diversity: Engaging with Histories, Theories, Practices, and Discursive Strategies of/for Educating Women and Girls in Global Contexts, Toronto, Canada.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (June 7, 2014) Bridging the Learning Continuum: Border Crossing Partnerships between Special Education and Gifted Education students. Emerging Scholars Symposium, Penn State Civil Rights Conference, State College, PA.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (March 8, 2014) Perspectives on the Precipice, A Youth Participatory Action Project, RCAF (MU Graduate Professional Council's Research and Creative Activities Forum), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (March 8, 2014) Empowerment, Gifted Girls and Youth Participatory Action Research "Perspectives on the Precipice: Using the visual arts as a vehicle to story the lived experiences of five girls in their last semester of high school," with Sara Ashbaugh, Samantha Ding, Najeebah Hussain, Megan Kelly, and Joanna Zhang (High School Seniors at Rock Bridge High School) Panel at the Women and Gender Studies Conference, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K., Clifton, J., Van Horn, S., Wan, I. (October 11, 2013) Photovoice as Creative Methodology, Inspired! Creativity Teaching Workshop Panels and Poster Event, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (October 2013) Learning Across the Continuum: Collaborative Projects between Gifted Education and Special Education, GAMbit (Gifted Association of Missouri) Annual Conference, Drury University, Springfield, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (October 2013) Empowerment Counseling: Support Practices for Our High Achieving High School Girls, GAM (Gifted Association of Missouri) Annual Conference, Drury University, Springfield, MO
Fishman-Weaver, K. (July 2013) The Lived Experiences of PhD Students, A Photovoice Project, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. (team PAR project with doctoral students in the college of education)
Fishman-Weaver, K. (May 21, 2013) Student Voices for Teacher Development, Diversity Panel, Columbia Public Schools, Board of Education Room, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (March 16, 2013) Empowerment Counseling: Support Practices for Our High Achieving High School Girls, Research and Creative Arts Forum (RCAF) Graduate Conference, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (February 23, 2013) Empowerment Counseling: Support Practices for Our High Achieving High School Girls, Women and Gender Studies Graduate Conference, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2009) Tutoring as an Intervention for the Tutor, San Francisco State University Graduate Research Showcase, San Francisco, CA.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2008) Project Based Learning in Nonviolence: a Learning Expedition for First Grade Students, San Francisco University TEAMS (teacher education for the advancement of a multicultural society) showcase, San Francisco, CA.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2007, 2008) Speaker at the Oakland Teaching Fellows Opening Ceremonies, Oakland, CA.
Fishman-Weaver, K. (2006) Speaker at the Oakland Teaching Fellows Closing Ceremonies, Oakland, CA.
Professional Honors and Awards
Professional Honors and Awards
National
Brain-Based Learning with Gifted Students nominated for the 2021 Phi Beta Kappa Science Book Award, 2021
Wholehearted Teaching of Gifted Young Women nominated for the National Association of Gifted Children Scholarly Book-of-the-Year Award, 2019
Society for Educating Women, Susan Laird Inquiry on Educating Women Award, November 2014
United States Department of Education, Distinguished Teacher, Presidential Scholars Program May 2014
United States Department of Education, Nominated for the Presidential Scholars Teacher Recognition Program, Twice Spring 2012 and three times in Spring 2014
State/Institutional
Wholehearted Teaching of Gifted Young Women nominated for the Texas Association of Gifted Children, Legacy Book Award, 2019
Stanford University, Award for Exceptional Teaching, Fall 2014
University of Missouri, Neil C. Aslin Memorial Scholarship for Educational Leadership Fall 2014-Spring 2015
University of Missouri, 1st place in the Social Sciences (Qualitative) category at the Research and Creative Arts Forum (RCAF), a graduate interdisciplinary research competition. Winter 2014
University of Missouri, The Jerry W. Valentine Fellowship for the doctoral study of school leadership, Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Missouri Scholars Teacher Appreciation Award, by student nomination, June 2013
University of Missouri, Featured Graduate Student, College of Education, June 2013
University of Missouri Honors College, Outstanding Teacher Recognition, October 2010
Local
Rock Bridge High School, "Bruin of my life" award, by nomination of 20+ students, Fall 2013
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