Teaching Faculty & Director of Graduate Literacy
- Ph.D., Reading Education University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
- Ed.M., Elementary Education University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
- B.A., English, Art minor, University at Albany, The State University of New York
Dr. Kayla Zimmer started in June as the Director of the Graduate Literacy program and teaching faculty at the University. She is a literacy specialist who studies student questioning; the science of literacy, learning and teaching; student engagement; and policy in education. In addition to over 25 years in higher education, she has been a 6-1-1 teacher for students with profound autism, a seventh-grade teacher assistant on native Seneca land, and a National Park Service ranger; she can talk passionately about all these amazing experiences. In her free time, she is an avid hiker, a reluctant gardener, an enthusiastic listener to local bands, and an adventurous cook and eater.
Publications
Finn, J. D. & Zimmer, K. S. (2012). Student engagement: What is it? Why does it matter? In S. L. Christenson, A. L. Reschly, & C. Wylie (Eds.). The handbook of research on student engagement. New York, NY: Springer.
Zimmer, K.S. (2019). The impact of the Academic Literacy Skills Test on teacher preparation in New York State (Accession No. 13885182) [doctoral dissertation, The State University of New York at Buffalo]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Zimmer, K. S. (June 2015). Starting early/starting smart: Embedding edTPA skills in a junior internship teaching experience. Presentation at the edTPA Mid-Atlantic Implementation Conference, Towson, MD.