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Kappa Delta Pi education honor society works to make a difference in the community

Shannon Dammer, a senior at SCSU, goes to school every day from 8 to 11 a.m., Lincoln Elementary School, that is.

Dammer is an elementary education major and the secretary of the SCSU chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for educators.

“At Lincoln, I tutor students in reading and math,” Dammer said. “I’m also an attendance monitor, which means when students don’t come to school I call or write letters to their parents. I also do some administrative assistant tasks like data entry.”

Lincoln is an excellent school. Because I am here every day, I can see the areas where KDP can get more involved in the schools and different ways we can make a difference. For instance, I’ve seen that a lot of students don’t have hats and mittens. So I am working with the other members of KDP to put together a supply drive. We want to put together a “care” package, which will include hats, mittens, a coloring book and crayons that can be sent home with children.”

Dammer’s commitment to KDP and the students at Lincoln is evident: “I know I’m a college student, but I can spend $10 dollars on hats and mittens and still be able to eat, so why not help?”

On an average day, she works with five to seven students for 20 to 30 minutes each. They are not always pulled out of class; sometimes she goes into their class and sits by them and helps and encourages them.

“The impact of one-one time with students is huge,” Dammer said. You can see the growth in their learning and interactions with others.”

As secretary for KDP, Dammer also organizes all the “book buddies” who come to Lincoln Elementary. Every fall KDP also sponsors a food drive. Fellow education students bring food for the food drive and help stock area food shelves. Also, KDP members volunteer to serve in soup kitchens.

KDP advisor Michael Davis is proud of the work the SCSU chapter does. Being a member of KDP himself, Davis eagerly became the group’s advisor 13 years ago when he began teaching at SCSU.

The SCSU chapter focuses on community service, mentoring and tutoring. KDP has adopted Jefferson and Lincoln Elementary schools for tutoring and mentoring but Davis says he leaves the search for community service activities up to the members.

Presently, most members of KDP are elementary education majors. But KDP is for students studying in all the education majors who meet the criteria, which according to the KDP website includes: a record of leadership and scholarship in the field of education.

KDP currently has approximately 12 members. Initiations are held every fall and spring. Meetings are held once a month or whenever necessary.

“Students are in the field and don’t have a lot of time to attend meetings,” Davis explained. “We have a couple of fundraising activities that we do on an annual basis, such as collect food for the poor and sponsor a book fair that
is held in the lounge of the Education Building.”

The big event for KDP is the annual recognition of educators, professors and community members who have made a special contribution to education. Plaques are given out to as many as 40 honorees at a banquet in the spring.

“KDP graduates distinguish themselves in their careers,” Davis said. “Dean Joane McKay is a member of KDP.”

Dammer said that being able to be in the schools and spending time with the students and staff is the greatest benefit from her membership in KDP. It has also given her tools she can utilize in every aspect of her life such as organizational skills, time management, community contacts and communication skills.

For more information about KDP contact: Michael Davis, KDP Advisor at 320-255-3944.

Kappa Delta Pi Creed:
So to teach that my words and actions inspire a will to learn; so to serve that each day may enhance the growth of exploring and expanding minds; so to live that I may guide young and old to know the truth and love the right.

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