Katherine Koch MEd, PhD, NRP

Dr. Katherine Koch is Assistant Professor of Education. Dr. Koch’s focus is on special education and she has extensive professional experience as a former elementary school special educator. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Koch has lived in the St. Mary’s County area since 1997 when her family moved here on military orders to NAS Patuxent River. Dr. Koch earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (majoring in Speech Pathology and Audiology) from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, a Master of Education in Special Education from Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland and a Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (now Notre Dame of Maryland University), in Baltimore, Maryland. Her dissertation, titled “Dual role: Parent and teacher of children with disabilities” considered the experiences of special education teachers who were also parents of children with disabilities and how those experiences influenced their pedagogy and teaching practices.

At SMCM since 2013, Dr. Koch teaches courses in special education, learning disabilities, behavior and other related disorders, twice-exceptional students, assistive technology and classroom collaboration for inclusive practices. Dr. Koch strives to provide future teachers with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in working with students with disabilities in inclusive education settings. Her research interests include parent experiences, teacher training and disability advocacy.