Kristen L. Hodnett, MS, is a special educator with 20 years of experience in both elementary and secondary grades in New York City and New Jersey public schools. Currently, she’s a teacher educator at Hunter College, CUNY, where she prepares first and second year teachers for their work in New York City classrooms. Hodnett is passionate about designing inclusive spaces using the principles of Universal Design for Learning. She believes instruction and classrooms should center around student identity and include culturally responsive and sustaining practices.
As an advocate for students and families who live and learn differently, Hodnett has focused her work on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that make schools a space for all students. She also was elected to her town’s board of education, serving as the chairperson for curriculum and instruction during her term.
Hodnett has a bachelor of arts degree in history from Rutgers College and a master of science degree in special education with a focus on learning disabilities from Hunter College, CUNY. She is currently a student in the Instructional Leadership program at Hunter College, earning her doctor of education degree.
Publications, media, and appearances
Meeting the needs of students in higher education multigenerational classrooms: What can educators do? (International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, 2024)
Current practice alert: Collaborative strategic reading (TeachingLD.org, 2007)