Dr. Kimberly Athans joined the School of Education faculty at 国产偷拍 in 2017. She began her teaching career as a tutor in the writing center at The University of San Diego, where she studied English and education, and where she obtained her teaching credential in 1996. In her twenty years in public education, she has taught Dual Credit English, AP/IB English, journalism, and traditional English classes grades 9-12 in California & Texas. Her research interests are in literacy/reading, best practices teaching writing, and the legacy and work of the National Writing Project. Professor Athans currently teaches classes in children鈥檚 literature, educational theory, assessment & research, and literacy for high school teachers.
Education
- BA English, University of San Diego, EdD Curriculum & Instruction (literacy), University of San Diego,
- MA English, University of Houston,
- EdD Literacy, Sam Houston State University
Courses Taught
- EDU 3002: Foundations of Education and Learning Theory
- EDU 4009:Classroom Assessment and Research Practices
- ENG 3025: Child & Adolescent Literature
- EDU 6020: Literacy Instruction for Secondary Teachers
- ENG 3053: Diverse Women Writers
Experience in Field
- Best practices teaching writing
- Teaching college composition & rhetoric
- Legacy & transformative nature of the National Writing Project
- Reading in the digital age; multi-modal literacies
Professional and Community Involvement
- California Writing Project Advisory Board Member (2025-present)
California Young Readers Medal Committee Member (2025-present)
Review Board Member, Educational Media International (EMI), a Taylor & Francis journal for the International Council for Educational Media (2025-present)
Rank & Tenure Committee, 国产偷拍, (2023-present)
SOE Teacher Education Committee (2017-2025)
National Council of Teachers of English (2001-present)
NCTE Recognizing Excellence in Literary Magazines Reviewer (2022-present)
NCTE Student Writing Contest Reviewer (2021-present)
California Association of Teachers of English (2017-present)
Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (2008-present)
Character Education Resource Center Advisory Committee, University of San Diego (2019-present)
Mt. Carmel High School Choir Boosters- Secretary, (2017-present)
National Writing Project Fellow (Sam Houston State University & CSU San Marcos)
Awards and Honors
- 国产偷拍 Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Faculty Writing Retreat Recipient, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Highlighted Alumni, SOLES, University of San Diego, 2019
- New Teacher of the Year, Robison Junior High School, 1996
Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications
PUBLICATIONS
Books:
Roseboro, A. & Steffel, S., & Athans, K. (contributor) et al. (2023). Empowering learners: Teaching different genres to diverse student bodies. Rowman & Littlefield. Athans, K. (2025). 鈥淭he greatness of the great gatsby鈥�,California English, 31 (2).
Columns:
Athans, K. (2023). "A mirror to the soul: Teaching culturally & linguistically diverse populations", California English, 29 (1).
Peer Reviewed Articles:
Athans, K. (2025). 鈥淪haking up our glitter jars in the national writing project鈥�. Texas Journal of Literacy Education (under review).
Athans, K. (2025). 鈥淭he greatness of the great gatsby鈥�, California English, 31 (2).
Athans, K. (2024). 鈥淚nviting the dining room table conversation into our classrooms鈥�. English In Texas, (54) 2.
Athans, K. (2024). 鈥淭eaching among the tumbleweeds: Helping new teachers thrive鈥�. California English, 30 (1).
Athans, K. (2023). 鈥淧oetry is a vibe: Engaging students with poetry鈥�. California English, 28 (3).
Athans, K. (2022). 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 dab ink from a dry well: Creating confident, passionate writers.鈥� California English, 28 (1).
Athans, K. (2022). 鈥淭he mystique of the national writing project鈥�. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 9 (2).
Athans, K. (2022). 鈥淚 like you just the way you are: Why secondary teachers need Fred Rogers.鈥� English in Texas. 52 (1).
Athans, K. & Sheryl Clark. (2022). 鈥淏e the candle & the mirror that reflects it: The place of canonical & popular culture texts in our classrooms鈥�. California English, 27 (3).
Athans, K. (2021). 鈥淏uilding a cathedral鈥�. California English, 27 (2).
Athans, K. (2021). 鈥淗ow do I know what I think until I see what I say: Speculative writing as a habit of mind鈥�. California English, 26 (4).
Athans, K. (2021). 鈥淧oetry discussion groups in the secondary English classroom鈥�. English Journal, 110 (5).
Athans, K. (2020). 鈥淭ide pool to the stars: The aesthetic value of literature鈥�. Signal Journal: The Journal of the International Literacy Association鈥檚 Special Interest Group: Network on Adolescent Literature, 43 (2).
Athans, K. (2020). 鈥淭ide pool to the stars: Literacy narrative鈥�. California English, 25 (4).
Athans, K. (2020). 鈥淏alloons in a boundless sky: Teachers who write create students who write鈥�. English in Texas, 49 (2).
Athans, K. (2019). 鈥淎 red balloon tied to an anchor鈥�. California English, 24 (4).
Book Reviews:
Athans, K. (2022). 鈥淭he residue of the old mellows and sweetens the new: What Alan Jacobs teaches us in his book breaking bread with the dead鈥�. English in Texas, 51 (2).
Athans, K. (2016). 鈥淭he pleasures of reading in an age of distraction鈥�, English in Texas, 46 (2).
Conference Papers:
Benge, C., Athans, K. et al. (2016). 鈥淯sing academic notebooks in doctoral writing: An Investigation of doctoral students鈥� and instructors鈥� perceptions鈥�. AERA Conference, Washington D.C.
PRESENTATIONS
For 国产偷拍:
Shaking Up our Glitter Jars in the National Writing Project, CWP CATE Pre-Convention, From Classrooms to Communities: Teaching Writing for a Democratic Future!, March 2026
鈥淔illing Up our Glitter Jars in the National Writing Project,鈥� CWP CATE Pre-Convention, From Classrooms to Communities: Teaching Writing for a Democratic Future!, March 2026
"The Mystique of the National Writing Project: The Transformative Effects of the Summer Institute on Teachers", Faculty Development Day, 国产偷拍, 2024
"Speculative Writing as a Habit of Mind", San Marcos Writing Project, Cal State San Marcos, June 2023 & June 2024
"Which Texts Work as Windows and Mirrors for Your Students?"
Character Education Conference, University of San Diego, June 2019
Live United! An Integration of Science & Faith; "Integrating Christian Elements in Clinical Practice"; 国产偷拍, April 2019
"Literacy Practices for Secondary Teachers", University of Southern Maine, December 2018
For Sam Houston State University:
Using Academic Notebooks in Doctoral Writing: An Investigation of Doctoral Students鈥� and Instructors鈥� Perceptions, Presented at AERA, Washington D.C., 2016
Poetry Circles in the Secondary Classroom, Reading & Writing Conference, Sam Houston State University, 2013
Read Around Groups, Sam Houston Writing Project, June 2013
For Lone Star College:
Alone Together, Faculty Book Study Leader, Lone Star College University Park, 2014
Honors Symposium Showcase, Lone Star College University Park, 2014
The Pleasures of Reading in a Digital Age, Lone Star College University Park, 2013
Visual Rhetoric & Media Literacy, Lone Star College Montgomery, 2010
Using E-Portfolios in the College Classroom, Lone Star College Montgomery, 2007
Teaching Grammar to Developmental Writing Students, Lone Star College Tomball, 2005
For Conroe Independent School District:
Close Reading Using Cornell Notes, 2016
State of our Schools Superintendent鈥檚 Address, 2015
Exciting Ways to Engage Students in their Understanding and Appreciation of Poetry, 2015
Commonplace Books in the Literature Classroom, 2014
Using Inquiry Circles in the Secondary Classroom, 2013
Poetry Circles in the Secondary Classroom, 2012
Literature Circles in the Secondary Classroom, 2011
