Biography
Dr. Karen Poland joined Niagara University in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Geneseo, a Master of Science in Secondary Social Studies Education, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from SUNY Cortland. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Theory and Practice from Binghamton University (SUNY), where her research focused on historical curricular controversies and the role of local voice in educational decision-making.
Dr. Poland brings a comprehensive P–20 perspective to her work, drawing from her diverse experience as a secondary social studies teacher, staff developer, P–12 educational consultant, and school administrator overseeing career and technical education programs. Her career has consistently centered on curriculum development, the integration of learning standards into instructional practice, and the preparation and ongoing development of educators. Her interdisciplinary expertise informs her teaching and research in the areas of the history of education and policy development, teacher education, social studies education, and civic education.
At Niagara University, Dr. Poland teaches a variety of education courses, including Cultural and Multicultural Foundations of Education, Human Learning, Development, and Motivation, and Secondary Teaching Methods.
She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the International Society for Educational Planners (ISEP), the New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE)/New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE), the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), and the New York State Council for the Social Studies (NYSCSS), where she also serves on the Higher Education Committee.
Courses Taught
- EDU 214: Cultural and Multicultural Foundations of Education
- EDU 215: Current Issues In Education
- EDU 236: Human Learning, Development, and Motivation
- EDU 460: General Methods of Secondary Education
- EDU 536: Human Learning, Development, and Motivation
- EDU 570 Theory to Practice: Instructional Research and Implementation
- EDU 760: General Methods of Secondary Education EDU 523:
- EDU 485: Social Studies Student Teaching Field Supervision
- EDU 781: Student Teaching in the Secondary Field Supervision
Selected Research Publications
Ciminelli, M., Garland, G., Hartman, J., Poland, K., Sarchet, L., & Wild, N. (2025, June 2). Supporting our scholarship: An intentional approach for supporting higher education faculty. Academic Leader
Poland, K., & Falzone, E. (January 2025). Exploring educational policy at macro and micro levels: Implications for the seals of biliteracy and civic readiness. Educational Planning 32(1), p. 10-25.
Poland, K., Bardsley, M., & Vermette, P. (2024). Invent a kid project: Fostering creative reflective practice in teacher candidates. Excelsior Leadership in Teaching and Learning. 17(1), 43-66. https://doi.org/10.14305/jn.19440413.2024.17.1.04
Falzone, E., & Poland, K. (2025, January 13). Beyond the classroom: establishing partnerships for real-world learning and student success. Faculty Focus. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003107606
Poland, K., Falzone, E & Serure, D.(2024). Why wasn’t Participation in Government enough?: A historical policy analysis of PIG and the Seal of Civic Readiness. Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education, 13 (1), 1-25. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/jiae/vol13/iss1/2/.
Boesenberg, E. and Poland, K. (2001, Fall). The Rugg Textbook Controversy in Binghamton, New York. Theory and Research in Social Education, 29(4), 640-670.
Susi, K. (1996). Book Corner [Review of the book The Great Speckled Bird: Multicultural Politics and Education Policymaking, by C. Cornbleth & D. Waugh]. Social Science Record, 33(1), 50 – 52.
Selected Research Presentations
Ciminelli, M., Hartman, J., Wild, N., Poland, K., Garland, D. & Sarchet, L. (February, 2025). Supporting our Scholarship (SoS): An innovative approach to faculty retention. Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE), National Conference, Long Beach, CA.
Poland, K. Wild, N., Sheehan, T., Faunce, J. (January, 2025). Fostering faculty collaboration and consensus through a structured course revision process .Committee on College Teaching and Learning (CCTL). Annual Conference, Niagara University: Lewiston Campus.
Poland, K. (2024). Simulating the realities of collaborative teaching: An in class activity for teacher candidates. New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (NYSATE/NYACTE) 2024 Fall Conference, Strength in Collaboration: Innovations to Recruit, Prepare, Mentor, Retain, and Advance Excellent Educators, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Poland, K., Wild, N., & Stahl, M. (2024). Fostering faculty collaboration: How a structured process to revising course syllabi enhanced faculty awareness of DEI practices. New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (NYSATE/NYACTE) 2024 Fall Conference: Strength in Collaboration: Innovations to Recruit, Prepare, Mentor, Retain, and Advance Excellent Educators, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Poland, K., Vermette, P., & Bardsley, M. (2024). What the Grade? An exploration of the report card as an instructional tool within teacher education programs. New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYSATE/NYACTE) 2024 Fall Conference: Strength in Collaboration: Innovations to Recruit, Prepare, Mentor, Retain, and Advance Excellent Educators, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Poland, K. & Falzone, E. (April, 2024). Navigating Local Educational Policy Implementation: Insights from a P-20 Collaborative Partnership for the NYS Seals of Biliteracy and Civic Readiness. New York State Association for Bilingual Education 46th Conference, Syracuse, NY
Poland, K. & Falzone, E. (April, 2024). The Seal of Biliteracy: What a decade of research offers to practitioners and policy advocates. New York State Association for Bilingual Education 46th Conference, Syracuse, NY
Poland, K. (October, 2023). Exploring the complexities of educational policy implementation at the local level: Developing innovative P-20 partnerships to support the NYS Seals of Biliteracy and Civic Readiness. New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY
Poland, K. (2023, February). National Curricular Discourse: Local forces that influence curricular battles. Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE) 2023 National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
Ciminelli, M., Falzone, L., McKissic,T.,& Poland, K. (2023, February). From temporary to permanent: The intentional process of moving a Master of Education initial certification program online. Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE) 2023 National Conference, Indianapolis, IN
Poland, K. (2022, October). The Rugg textbook controversy: Applying yesterday’s lessons to today’s curricular battles. New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYSATE/NYACTE) 2022 Fall Conference: Seeking Solidarity -Preparing Educators in and for Challenging Times, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Bardsley, M., Vermette, P., and Poland, K. (2022, October). Invent a kid strategy: Putting self in the classroom. New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYSATE/NYACTE) 2022 Fall Conference: Seeking Solidarity -Preparing Educators in and for Challenging Times, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Poland, K. (2003, March). An Integrated Approach to Lesson Planning: Bridging the Gap. ACTEA Technical Assistance Workshop, Albany, New York.
Poland, K and Boesenberg, E. (1999, October). The Rugg Textbook Controversy and Binghamton, New York. Third Annual Conference for Doctoral Students, Binghamton, New York
Susi, K. (1995, October). The Great Speckled Bird: Social Studies Politics, Policies and Practices. Panel. New York Council of Social Education, Binghamton, New York.