A volume in Research in Curriculum and Instruction Series Editor: O. L.
Davis, Jr. The University of Texas at Austin Kappa Delta Pi is an
international honor society in Education founded in 1911. This book
chronicles the leadership of Kappa Delta Pi across the past century
through a collection of short life stories about the 32 individuals who
were elected by members to lead the Society. Through their work with
their fellow officers, they helped keep alive the flame that called
attention to the importance of highly qualified teachers in American
schools, in the main, teachers whose academic credentials were very
strong. These life stories attend to KDP presidents' contributions to
education, particularly with emphasis a) on high academic scholarship
for educational professionals, e.g., teacher candidates, teachers at all
levels, school administrators, college and university faculty members in
education and in fields related to educational practice and knowledge;
b) toward teacher candidates' mindful learning in and the integration of
liberal arts, education, and other fields of study; c) and in the
support and fostering of scholarly endeavors, especially substantive
research and creative developments in the educational processes of
schooling - all or many related to the individual's involvement in Kappa
Delta Pi. A number of elements of Kappa Delta Pi's purposes and
practices during its first century are illuminated in this book. Many
others remain obscured, neglected, or unknown. Readers reasonably may
discover keys to increased understanding and wonderment as they read and
think about the lives of these former presidents, particularly about
their contributions to the continuance and strengthening of the Society.
One impressive key surely is evident. Their presidencies not only helped
Kappa Delta Pi to continue to exist. They also fostered the fruitful
creation of this honor society in education. And so also will those
members and leaders who, succeeding these former presidents, enter
confidently into Kappa Delta Pi's second century.
