Learn. Teach. Inspire.

Educator

The recess whistle pictured above belonged to Kathrina’s grandmother, a sixth-grade teacher who inspired her to become an educator. Kathrina and her twin brother were students in their grandmother’s classroom (one of the many benefits of living in a small, rural town) and observed their grandma guide, support, and advocate for all her students. In a full-circle moment, Kathrina taught in her grandmother’s classroom 50 years to the day that she started teaching.

While Kathrina is no longer teaching sixth-grade scholars, she supports pre-service teachers who will become classroom teachers. She guides practicing teachers to use evidence-based, enrichment-focused instruction and continues to advocate for rural education, access to books and learning opportunities (all year), and supporting multilingual learners with an asset-focused teaching lens.

Photo credit: Jeremy Albright Photography

Education & Experience

  • Education and Training:

    Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota (2020). Ed.D. Degree: Educational Leadership

    University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota (2017). Literacy Leadership Graduate Certificate

    Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota (2014). M.A. Degree: Teaching English as a Second Language

    Concordia College, Moorhead, MN (1999). B.A. Degrees: Elementary Education and Spanish

    Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain (1997). Diploma Básico 

    Teaching Licenses & Certificates:

    Elementary Education (K-6) Minnesota

    Spanish (FLES 1-6) Minnesota

    English as a Second Language (K-12) Minnesota

    Reading (K-12) Minnesota

    LETRs®, 2022

    Level 1 Handwriting Specialist, Handwriting Without Tears®

    National Geographic Certified Educator, 2018

  • Fulbright Roving Scholar, Norway. 2025-2026. Providing workshops for lower secondary students, their teachers, and pre-service teachers on American topics and best practices in literacy.

    Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. 2025-present. Associate Professor of Education.

    Consultant. 2014-present. Providing individual instruction for students learning English and guiding schools to support their students’ needs.

    Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN. 2020-2025. Assistant Professor of Professional Education.

    Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Summer 2022. Adjunct instructor for Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).

    Lake Park Audubon Elementary, Audubon, MN. 2011-2020. Sixth Grade Teacher.

    Circle of Life School, White Earth Indian Reservation, MN. 2010-2011. Second Grade Teacher at the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school.

    West Point Elementary School, West Point, NY. 2000-2001. Pre-Kindergarten Teacher at the Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) school.

    Windsor Academy, New Windsor, NY. 1999-2000. Kindergarten and Spanish Teacher.

  • O’Connell, K., & Aune, J. (2026). Reframing Literacy Instruction for Educational Professionals. Cambridge University Press.

    O’Connell, K. (2024).Reactions to a Required, Diverse and Inclusive Text Read-Aloud in Rural Classrooms. The Dragon Lode 42(2)36-46.

    O'Connell, K. (2023). Reaching Rural Students with Resources and Enrichment-Focused Learning in the Summer Months. The Rural Educator, 44(2), 69-72. https://doi.org/10.55533/2643-9662.1383

    O’Connell, K. (2023).From remediation to enrichment: Shifting focus to enhance student growth, development, and reading success. Literacy Today, January-March, 78-79.https://publuu.com/flip-book/24429/200177/page/80

    O'Connell, K. (2020). Making Summer Learning Equitable for Students in a Rural, Title I School District: Turning on the Faucet of Resources. The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning, 1(1). Retrieved from https://red.mnstate.edu/ijgll/vol1/iss1/5

    O’Connell, K. (2021) What is Reader’s Theater? Using Literacy for Online Student Engagement. TeachThought. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/literacy/what-is-readers-theater-iteracy-online-student-engagement/

    O’Connell, K. (2020). Avenues and Art in Audubon, Minnesota: Melding the Past and the Present to Teach a Town about its History. Rural Schools Collaborative. Retrieved from https://ruralschoolscollaborative.org/stories/a-report-back-from-minnesotas-grants-in-place-fellow-kathrina-oconnell

    O’Connell, K. (2019). The ABC’s of John James Audubon: Art, Birding, and Conservation. Rural Schools Collaborative. Retrieved from https://ruralschoolscollaborative.org/stories/the-abcs-of-john-james-audubon-art-birding-and-conservation

    O’Connell, K. (2018). Audubon, Art, and Student Achievement. Rural Schools Collaborative. Retrieved from https://ruralschoolscollaborative.org/stories/lake-park-audubon-students-embrace-their-towns-namesake

  • INTERNATIONAL

    O’Connell, K., & O’Bryan, S. (2024). Literacy for All: Rural Response to Representative Texts. Federation of European Literacy Association’s (FELA) European Conference on Literacy. Chania, Greece, June 2024.

    O’Connell, K. (2022). Diverse and Inclusive Picture Book Read-Aloud Requirement: Impact on Pre-Service and Classroom Teachers. European Conference on Literacy. Dublin, Ireland, July 2022.

    O’Connell, K., & Leland, A. (2022). Supporting Summer Learning During Late-Pandemic Transitioning. European Conference on Literacy. Dublin, Ireland, July 2022.

    Bradbury, B., Gillett, E., Glessner, M., O’Connell, K., & Suarez-Sousa, X. (2019). Indicadores Dinámicos del Exito en la Lectura [DynamicIndicators of Reading Success and Reading Interventions]. Presentation at the Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Lima, Peru. March 2019.

    Bradbury, B., Gillett, E., Glessner, M., O’Connell, K., & Suarez-Sousa, X. (2019). El Sistema de Apoyo Multi-Nivel (SAMN) [The Multi-Tiered Systems of Support]. Presentation atWinnetka School, Lima, Peru. March 2019.

    NATIONAL

    O’Connell, K.., Jane, D. (2024). Global Texts at the Heart of Learning: Lessons in Lesson Planning. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Boston, Fall 2024.

    O’Connell, K., Jane, D., Ramierez-Torres, T., & Tenon, S. (2024). Fostering Hope and Heart Through Global Books. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Boston, Fall 2024.

    O’Bryan, S. & O’Connell, K. (2023). Battling Burnout in Higher Education: SEL in Action in a Professional Education Department. 2023 SEL Exchange, Atlanta, GA. Fall 2023.

    O’Connell, K. (2023).Reaching Rural Students with Summer Resources and Reading Enrichment. National Rural Education Association’s (NREA) National Forum to Advance Rural Education. Chattanooga, TN. (digital), Fall 2023.

    O’Connell, K. (2023). Connecting Pre-Service and Classroom Teachers with Diverse Picture Books in Rural Schools. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Columbus, OH. Fall 2023.

    Jane, D., & O’Connell, K. (2023). From Global to Local: Fostering Connections Through Literature.  National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Columbus, OH. Fall 2023.

    Jane, D., & O’Connell, K. (2022). Lighting Up the World: Globalizing Rural Teacher Training Programs. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Anaheim, CA. Fall 2022.

    O’Connell, K. (2022). Diverse and Inclusive Picture Book Read-Aloud Requirement: Impact on Pre-Service and Classroom Teachers. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Anaheim, CA. Fall 2022.

    O’Connell, K. (2021). Reading Enrichment for Rural, Middle School Students: A Two-Summer Study. Literacy Research Association, Atlanta, GA. December 3, 2021.

    O’Connell, K. (2021). Closing the Opportunity Gap with Equitable Summer Resources for Underserved Middle School Students. National Council of Teachers of English. Louisville, KY. Conference moved online due to COVID-19 pandemic. November 2021.

    O’Connell, K. (2021). Summer Literacy Academy: Equitable Resources for Rural Students. National Forum to Advance Rural Education, Indianapolis, IN (online presentation), November 2021.

    O’Connell, K. (2020). Motivation in the Middle Grades: Creating a Student-Centered Summer Literacy Program with an Emphasis on Positive Reading Experiences. Accepted conference proposal for the International Literacy Association national conference, Dayton, Ohio. October 2020. Conference cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    O’Connell, K. (2020). Supporting Summer Literacy: Turning on the Faucet of Resources for Rural Students. Accepted conference proposal for the International Literacy Association national conference, Dayton, Ohio. October 2020. Conference cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    REGIONAL

    Bobrowsky, T., & O’Connell, K. (2022). A Generous Gift: Children’s DEI Grant Books Provide Many Opportunities. Lake Superior Libraries Symposium. Online, June 10, 2022

    O’Connell, K. (2022). Motivation in the Middle Grades: Using Enrichment-Focused Literacy Instruction to Engage and Empower Adolescent Readers. Iowa Reading Conference, Ames, IA. June 2022.

    O’Connell, K. (2022). Summer Programming for Preschool and Kindergarten Students. Iowa Reading Conference, Ames, IA. June 2022.

    O’Connell, K. (2022). Closing the Gap with Equitable Summer Resources. Dr. Michael T. Fagin Pan American Conference. Mankato State University, Mankato, MN. Online. February 2022.

    O’Connell, K. (2022). Equity, Enrichment, and Engagement for Students’ Summer Success. BSU Honors Council Lecture. February 23, 2022.

    O’Connell, K. (2022). Equity, Enrichment, and Engagement for Middle School Students’ Summer Success. Minnesota Middle School Association (MMSA) Annual Meeting. Online. February 2022.

    O’Connell, K. (2021). Equity and Enrichment: A Two-Year Study on Engagement for Rural Middle School Students. Iowa Reading Conference, Ames, IA. June 2021.

    O’Connell, K. (2014).Language Analysis of Leveled and Graded Readers for English Learners. Presentation at the MinneTESOL/MELEd Conference,Bloomington, MN. November 2014.

  • Margaret A. Cargil Philanthropies Grant (2024, $320,000)

    Minnesota Cultural Heritage Grant (2024, $24,800).

    Minnesota Department of Education, Concurrent Enrollment Grant (2023, $90,920)

    Catalyst Initiative Grant, Rural Schools Collaborative (2023, $25,000)

    Northwoods Literacy Conference (2022-2025, $8,000)

    Global Texts for the A.C. Clark Library (2020-2024, $12,000)

    Minnesota State Innovation Grant (2021, $3,960)

    New Faculty Grant Award (2020, $4,924.20)

    Literacy Academy (2019-2024, $35,500)

    Rural Schools Collaborative National Education Fellow (2019, $2,000)

    National Geographic (2019, $4,400)

    Pollinator Garden Expansion (2018-2019, $5,100)

    America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant (2017: $10,000)

    MN Department of Education PBIS district grant (2017: $15,000)

    Cowles Dance Without Barriers Residency (2013-2018: $13,000)

    Professional Improvement Grants (2020-2025): $4,800

  • Fullbright Roving Scholar in Norway, 2025-2026

    National Summer Learning Association, National Summer Learning Award, Semi-Finalist, 2021

    Minnesota Rural Education Association Educator of Excellence Award, North Central Region, 2020. Video: https://youtu.be/6B3rJ_bTVKM

    Minnesota Teacher of the Year nomination, 2020

    Rural Schools Collaborative, National Grants-in-Place Fellow, West Central Minnesota HUB, 2019-2020

    National Geographic Educator Spotlight, July 1, 2019. Protecting Our Prairies. https://blog.education.nationalgeographic.org/2019/06/25/educator-spotlight-protecting-our-prairies/

    2019 Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom, Outstanding Teacher Award, runner-up