Kathleen Budge brings a blend of 26 years of practical experience as a teacher and administrator combined with 14 years of work dedicated to bridging the gap between the university and the teaching profession. As associate professor Emerita of Educational Leadership in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Department at Boise State University, she continues her research focus on poverty, rural education, school improvement, and leadership development. In addition to this book, Budge co-authored with Parrett, Disrupting Poverty: 5 Powerful Classroom Practices, and the video series Disrupting Poverty in Elementary and Secondary Classrooms. She continues to maintain that her most important and significant work has been teaching first graders to read. Contact her at kathleenbudge@boisestate.edu or on Twitter @KathleenBudge.