Dr. David Koppenhaver, professor in the Department of Reading Education and Special Education, is retiring after 19 years of working in the Reich College of Education (RCOE) at Appalachian State University.
He has taught courses in reading education and special education at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
During his tenure at App State, he has received many accolades for this teaching, mentoring, and research:
- Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity,
- 100 Scholars Research Award from the Williams School of Graduate Studies,
- Outstanding Mentoring Award from the RCOE,
- Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement Award from the RCOE, and
- Inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Graduate Mentors.
In 2019, he published a highly successful and best-selling methods book, called “Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write,” which ranks in the top 10 best sellers in three of Amazon’s special education categories. The book has been adopted for pre-service teacher training by faculty across the United States and has sparked the development of online courses and other forms of professional development in other countries, including Canada and Australia.
He has observed many changes to App State, specifically the reading education program. “What began as a multi-site, off-campus cohort for practicing teachers has transformed into providing online opportunities to students who have recently completed their bachelor’s degree as well as practicing teachers across the state.”
Koppenhaver said he will miss his colleagues in the department and mentoring his doctoral student, however, he is looking forward to “time for personal interests and new learning” in retirement.
His advice to new faculty: “Find like-minded scholars to conduct research with and write with.”
His advice to new faculty: “Find like-minded scholars to conduct research with and write with.”
“The job they've accepted here is far more complex than the job I accepted due to the range of politically-driven and intrusive oversight processes and regulations, so finding like-minded scholars will be important,” he added.
David Koppenhaver
