Kyle E. LaPaglia

My name is Dr. Kyle LaPaglia, and I was born and raised in Erie. During my college years, I faced uncertainty regarding my career path. I initially embarked on the journey of music education due to my profound love for music. However, I soon realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. My passion for teaching, on the other hand, led me to switch my major to elementary education. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of my dedication to a lifelong career in education. Over the past 15 years, I have committed myself to this field.

My career began in two different early childhood settings, where I had the privilege of welcoming students from diverse backgrounds. For the past decade, I taught both second and fifth grades in Naples, FL, where I discovered my true calling—working with children with disabilities. This passion led me to pursue a master’s degree in Special Education, and I became an Exceptional Student Education Specialist. In this role, I facilitated Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings, collaborating with parents, colleagues, and students. Following this, I was promoted to Assistant Principal, where I fostered a collaborative environment that nurtured the growth of both students and teachers.

Now, as the Director of the School of Education at Gannon University, I am excited to bring my expertise and real-world experiences to pre-service teachers. Gannon University provides a strong foundation, enabling students to reach their full potential, and I am proud to be a part of this community.

Outside of my professional life, I cherish the time I spend with my family. My wife and I love exploring the world, immersing ourselves in different cultures and customs. Our two children are eager adventurers, always excited to explore the outdoors and visit new playgrounds. I look forward to many fulfilling years working with students and colleagues at Gannon University.

Courses Taught

ECED 104 Child Development Theory and Practice

SPED 306 Data Driven Instruction

SPED 308 High Incidence Disabilities

SPED 333 Transitions

MLED 202 Adolescent Development
MLED 303 Applications of Math
GEDU 542 High Incidence Disabilities
GEDU 544 Data Driven Instruction
GEDU 609 Inclusive Classrooms
GEDU 730 Diverse Learner Competencies for School Leaders

Educational History

Florida Gulf Coast University, Ed.D. Educational Leadership, Dissertation Title: "Preservice Teacher Dispositions: A Case Study of Changes During a Teacher Preparation Program," 2020

Western Governor's University, M.S. Special Education, 2011

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, B.S. Elementary Education, 2009

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, B.S. Early Childhood Education, 2009

Expertise

Special Education

Educational Leadership

Early Childhood Education

Teacher Dispositions

Professional Societies

National Association for the Education of Young Children

Publications

Lang, W. S., Moore, L., Wilkerson, J. R., Parfitt, C. M., Greene, J., Kratt, D., Martelli, C. D., LaPaglia, K., Johnston, V., Gilbert, S., Zhang, J., & Fields, L. (2018). Beliefs About Teaching (BATS2): Construction and validation of an instrument based on InTASC critical dispositions. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 17(8), 56-77. doi:10.26803/ijlter.17.8.4

LaPaglia, K. (2018). [Review of the book Critical pedagogy: Notes from the real world (4th ed), by J. Wink]. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 2(2), 146-149.

LaPaglia, K. (2019). Educators fostering academic rigor. Journal of Literacy Innovation, 4(1), 5-15.

LaPaglia, K. (2020). Preservice teacher dispositions: A case study of changes during a teacher preparation program (Doctoral dissertation). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (UMI No. 28314521).

LaPaglia, K. (2023). Changes in preservice teacher dispositions during a teacher preparation program. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 12(2), 1035-1040. doi:10.11591/ijere.v12i2.24224

Scholarship-Research

Presentations:

Lang, W. S., Wilkerson, J. R., LaPaglia, K. E., & Moore, L. L. (2020, February 29). Assessment of Teacher Dispositions Meaningfully and Credibly. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Atlanta, GA.

Lang, W. S., Wilkerson, J. R., Moore, L. L., Fields, L. J., Parfitt, C. M., Greene, J. S., Kratt, D. M., Martelli, C. D., LaPaglia, K. E., Johnston, V. D., Gilbert, S. G., Zhang, J., & Wang, C. X. (2018, February 9). Beliefs about teaching (BATS2): Construction and validation of an instrument based on InTASC critical dispositions. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association, Clearwater, FL.

Lang, W. S., Wilkerson, J. R., Moore, L. L., Fields, L. J., Greene, J. S., Kratt, D. M., Martelli, C. D., LaPaglia, K. E., Johnston, V. D., Gilbert, S. G., Zhang, J., & Wang, C. X. (2018, February 9). Measuring Teacher Dispositions Systematically Using Multiple Measures. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association, Clearwater, FL.

LaPaglia, K. E. (2019, October 5). Teacher Dispositions: Transference from Campus Coursework to the Field. Paper presented at the meeting of the Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration, Fort Myers, FL.

LaPaglia, K. E., Wilkerson, J. R., Parfitt, C. M., Lang, W. S., & Moore, L. L. (2019, October 4). Changing Dispositions of Teachers from Unaware to Valuing. Paper presented at the meeting of the Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration, Fort Myers, FL.

LaPaglia, K. E., Wilkerson, J. R., & Parfitt, C. M. (2021, February 18). Preservice teacher dispositions: A case study of changes during a teacher preparation program. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association, Virtual.

LaPaglia, K. E., Wilkerson, J. R., & Parfitt, C. M. (2021, February 19). Beliefs About Teaching (BATS2)- Confirmation of Dispositional Growth between the Diagnostic and Post Tests. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association, Virtual.

Martelli, D., Johnston, V., LaPaglia, K., & Sidisky, J., (2018, March 17). A Literacy Festival and its Impact on Title I School Partners. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Association for Professional Development, Jacksonville, FL.

Moore, L. L., Lang, W. S., Wilkerson, J. R., Parfitt, C. M., & LaPaglia, K. E. (2019, October 5). I Love to Teach: But, Based on my Personal Dispositions, Will I be able to Connect to My Students and Persist in the Profession. Paper presented at the meeting of the Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration, Fort Myers, FL.

Wilkerson, J. R., Parfitt, C. M., Greene, J. S., Kratt, D. M., Martelli, C. D., LaPaglia, K. E., Johnston, V. D., Gilbert, S. G., Zhang, J., & Wang, C. X. (2018, February 8). Solving rubric conundrum: High ratings and accountability for almost all graduates vs. actionable data and continuous improvement for CAEP. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association, Clearwater, FL.

Wilkerson, J. R., Parfitt, C. M., Greene, J. S., Kratt, D. M., Martelli, C. D., LaPaglia, K. E., Johnston, V. D., Gilbert, S. G., Zhang, J., & Wang, C. X. (2018, February 8). Faculty, students, and administrators working together to solve the CAEP psychometric and evaluation challenge through a novel rubric approach. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association, Clearwater, FL.