Guest: Kim Murza, PhD, CCC-SLP

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In this insightful episode, special guest Dr. Kim Murza shares her expertise on applying a strengths-based approach in educational settings. Dr. Murza, the Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Affairs at the University of Northern Colorado, discusses her extensive experience in language and literacy, interprofessional collaboration, and community-engaged learning. Listen in as she defines inclusion, contrasts medical and social models of disability, and elaborates on the consultative collaborative model of service delivery. This episode highlights the importance of focusing on strengths to enhance student engagement and success.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:18 Meet Dr. Kim Murza

03:57 Understanding Inclusion

08:06 Strengths-Based Approach Explained

17:14 Medical vs. Social Models of Disability

29:32 Collaborative Consultative Model in Schools

35:17 Introduction to UDL and Its Importance

35:52 UDL's Impact on Educators and Students

36:59 The Role of SLPs in UDL

38:00 Inclusion and Universal Benefits

40:10 Strength-Based Approach for Educators

42:32 Collective Teacher Efficacy

45:17 Empowering Paraeducators

50:10 Collaborative Consultative Model

51:35 Positive Niche Construction

01:01:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About the Guest:

Kim Murza, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, received her doctorate in Education: Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Florida, where she specialized in language and literacy. She is currently the Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Affairs in the College of Natural and Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado and previously served as a Professor of Speech-Language Pathology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Murza has worked both privately and in the public school system as a speech-language pathologist, serving children and adolescents of all ages. She is passionate about supporting school-based speech-language pathologists to provide inclusive and collaborative services. Her main research area is the development, delivery, and evaluation of high-quality professional learning in schools. Additional research interests include interprofessional collaboration in the schools, coaching of extenders, community-engaged learning, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. More recently, she has been involved in the development and program coordination of the Greeley Treasure Chest Program and Project L.I.F.E. (Literacy for Immigrant Families Every Day).

Mentioned in this episode:

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