Meet Dr. Karen Rae Nicholas-Minert
Degrees and Experience
- Ph.D., Special Education (Florida State University)
- M.S., Diagnostic Teaching and Special Education (Florida International University)
- B.S., Rehabilitation Services (Florida State University)
Biography and Professional Achievements
Dr. Minert has extensive experience in the field of teacher preparation and K-12 special education, English and Reading instruction, and currently serves as a District Program Specialist for Behavioral Support within Leon County Schools ESE Department in Tallahassee, FL. She is also an instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid. In addition to teaching K-12, her instructional experience includes implementation of research of reading and writing performance, learning strategy instruction, academic support services and study skills programs for at-risk learners. She is focused on embracing technology, small groups, and individualized instruction to measure student growth and meet learning goals.
She has a strong working knowledge of educational law and its connected impact on academic systems, and readily partners with teachers, administrators, social workers, guidance counselors, and families to help students. She has advised, counseled and mentored college students, supervised students in various educational field experiences and internships, and provided numerous hours of community service through speaking engagements and professional development training for adult learners.
Her faithful philosophy is to embrace individualized, student-centered, project-based learning practices using multi-modality delivery models to assimilate creativity, motivation and enthusiasm to solve real-world problems. Along with her teaching experiences, I also have served as a grant research assistant, submitted several grant-funded research proposals, and produced scholarly publications relevant to them. When she is not teaching, she can be found spending time with family, at the beach, and relaxing with her golden retriever, Emmagrace.
Dissertation
- The Effects of Structured Writing Strategy Training on Expository Compositions Produced by African-American Postsecondary Students with Learning Disabilities
Publications
- Nicholas, K.R., & Menchetti, B.M. (2009) Special education. In. W. G. Emener, M.A. Richard, & John J. Bosworth (eds.) A guidebook to human service professions: Helping college students explore opportunities in the human service field (pp. 223-235). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
- Keaton, J. M., Palmer, B. C., Nicholas, K. R., & Lake, V. E. (Jan-Feb 2007.) Direct Instruction with Playful Skill Extensions: Action Research in Emergent Literacy Development. Reading Horizons, 47(3), 229-250.
- Nicholas, K.R., Menchetti, B.M., & Nettles, S.M. (Fall 2005). An exploratory investigation of structured writing strategy training for African-American college students with leaning disabilities. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 36(1), 37-59.
- Mathes, P., Torgesen, J.K., Clancy-Menchetti, J. Santi, K., Nicholas, K.R., Robinson, C.S., & Grek, M. (2003). A comparison of teacher-directed versus peer-assisted instruction to struggling first-grade readers. The Elementary School Journal, 103(5), 459-479.
- Menchetti, B.M., & Nicholas, K.R. (2003). An introduction to special education: A guide for aspiring professionals. In M. Richard & W. Emener (Eds.), I’m a people person: A guide to human service professions (pp. 220-235). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
- Keaton, J.M., Palmer, B.C., & Nicholas, K.R. (Submitted for publication, December, 2003). Direct instruction with playful extensions: Action research in literacy development. The Elementary School Journal.
- Palmer, B.C., Nicholas, K.R., Rancourt, R.E., & Musumeci-Renwick, J.A. (Summer, 2002). Fables in the classroom: Motivating middle school writers with learning disabilities. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 6(2), 90-95.
- “A Meta-Analysis of Volunteer Tutoring Programs for Beginning Readers”, Florida Reading Research Conference, USF, Tampa, Florida, April 2007 Co-presenters: Stephanie Al Otaiba, Jennifer Vogel, Yaacov Petscher, Allison Dyrlund.