Since joining PDK International in 2022, DeShanna Reed has been a very active member of the Houston Area Chapter. She originally discovered PDK International through the scholarship program while she was earning her doctorate. Today, she serves as the vice president of membership for the Houston Area Chapter.
The Houston Area Chapter is one of many PDK chapters that offer local scholarships. In partnership with the University of Houston, where the chapter originated, the chapter awards the Billie P. Spellman Scholarship for Graduate Studies each year. Reed was the 2022 recipient.
Reed is currently a consultant running D. Reed Coaching, Consulting, and Advocacy. She has a background in behavioral health research and began her extensive education career through an alternative certification program in Texas. Her career has included work as a special education paraprofessional and as an administrator at the Harmony School of Endeavor, a public charter school in Austin, Texas.
Having joined PDK as a graduate student, Reed has brought fresh ideas to the chapter about recruiting members at earlier stages in their careers. “You have to be intentional about nailing down the why,” Reed says. “Younger generations of teachers want to have something that represents a movement.”
She has championed recruiting new members at live events. “Virtual meetings are fantastic, but you need to provide those opportunities for meaningful connections.” She has gotten the chapter involved in fundraisers to connect with other educators at the University of Houston and the larger community. “You have to do things in the community that make a difference and are tied to education.”
The Houston Area Chapter also has been working with Educators Rising, sending multiple judges and presenters, including Reed, to the 2024 national conference in Washington, D.C.
“The most rewarding part of being a PDK member has been the opportunity to do things with Educators Rising,” Reed says. The conference “provides the opportunity to make an impact beyond where you live, to make connections, and to extend the reach of education and empower people who are at the beginning of their careers. To help them develop strategies to sustain them when times get tough.”
Due to a sibling’s experiences, Reed developed a lifelong passion for supporting neurodivergent learners. She presented at the Educators Rising conference on circles of support for these learners, a topic that originated from a TED Talk she delivered. Her commitment to inclusive education is further demonstrated in her multiple publications, including the 2023 book, UDL for SEL and the Write to Thrive workbooks for interactive journaling.
Reed believes “that even if you don’t have a degree in education, you can still go on to get an alternative certification and that an alternative certification teacher can be equally as capable. I really wanted to bring that piece to light.” Being part of PDK and Educators Rising enables her to share this experience with those considering an education career. “I really have always enjoyed having opportunities to share the benefit of my experience both on the inside and outside of education with emerging teachers,” she says.
This article appears in the October 2024 issue of Kappan, Vol. 106, No. 2, p. 62.
