Dr. Kim Floyd
“From my background in rural special education, we know that trauma can influence the way a child learns, interacts with peers and adults, and behaves during instructional portions of their school day. Having additional mental health professionals in the school to support students with a variety of backgrounds is amazing. I am extremely excited for the students and families in Harrison County and look forward to every step of the process that will bring about the needed support to the community.”
Dr. Kim Floyd received her bachelor's degree in School Psychology and her master's in Special Education from East Carolina University, going on to also earn a Ph.D. in Special Education at Old Dominion University. While at East Carolina University, she served as a Director of the REAP program as well as a faculty member before joining West Virginia University in 2009.
Since coming to WVU, Floyd research has focused on assistive and instructional technology supports to include implementing assistive and emerging technologies in inclusive classrooms, infusing principles of Universal Design for Learning, early childhood special education, examining teacher preparation programs practices in rural special education, trauma informed practices and compassion fatigue in educators.
Floyd developed the Collaborative Assistive Technology Education (CATE) Lab in 2010 and currently serves as the lab coordinator in addition to her role as faculty member. The lab is utilized by multiple disciplines across campus with more than 1,500 assignments completed per semester, exposing many pre-service educators and therapists to assistive and instructional technologies. Additionally, her youngest son was the first student from West Virginia to be awarded the National Yes I Can! Award from the Council for Exceptional Children, which honors children and youth with exceptionalities who shine.
She has been recognized for her commitment in serving schools and communities in rural settings by receiving the Kim and Kasey Floyd Social Justice Award and the Eagle Award from the American Council on Rural Special Education, in 2023 and 2020 respectively. She received the Outstanding Teaching Award in 2011 and 2013 from the College of Education and Human Services, as well as the 2013 Darden Fellow Award from Old Dominion University.