Profile for

Karen Walker, Ed.D.

• Faculty

Assistant Professor Department of Curriculum and Instruction

A Conversation with Dr. Walker

We asked Dr. Walker some key questions about East Texas A&M and her field, and she shares her thoughtful responses with you.

Thinking About ETAMU?

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What draws you to your discipline?

Early childhood experiences from birth to age eight provide the foundation for future learning, behavior and health. In 1986, Robert Fulghum wrote a book titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” which encouraged sharing, being kind, cleaning up after oneself and living a balanced life of work, play and learning. Jean Piaget told us “Play is the work of childhood.” And Mr. Rogers elaborated on this by saying, “For children, play is serious learning.”

Your Work in Early Education

I hope my work inspires learning through play and the recognition that early years shape children's success in school and life. I am proud to be a teacher educator because teaching is the profession that prepares all other professions.

What’s your latest project?

I am working with two colleagues on an edited book titled “Voices of Early Childhood Educators: Conversations About Change in the U.S. South” with an anticipated publication date of December 2024. The book’s publisher is the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA), formally known as the Southern Association on Children Under Six.

Educational Background

Here, you’ll find a comprehensive overview of my academic credentials and the institutions where I completed my studies.

• Ed.D., Early Childhood Education; Reading, University of North Texas, 2014
• M.Ed., Special Education; Early Childhood Education, University of North Texas, 1995
• BBA, Finance, University of North Texas, 1989

Awards and Honors

Here, you can explore the various awards and honors that acknowledge my professional contributions and achievements.

• Award of Excellence, Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, 2018

Research Interests

You can explore the key areas of my research focus within early childhood education.

• Play
• Early literacy
• Young children with special needs

Professional Associations

Discover the professional organizations where you maintain active membership and contribute to your field.

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Texas Association for the Education of Young Children
• Southern Early Childhood Association
• National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
• International Play Association
• Phi Kappa Phi, Chapter 230

Selected Publications

You can review some of my significant publications here, showcasing my research and expertise.

• Walker, K. & Harris, S. (2022). Sara Smilansky. In Geneser, V. (Ed.). Scholarly snapshots: Affirming the importance of a child's right to play. Rowan & Littlefield Publishers.
• Walker, K. (2022). Making the most of teachable moments. Teaching Young Children, 15(2), 23-25.
• Montemayor, A. & Walker, K. (2021). Preparing generalists early childhood teachers to work with culturally and linguistically diverse children who have special needs. In Riojas-Cortez, M. (Ed.) Diversifying pedagogy in early childhood teacher preparation programs.Rowman & Littlefield.