Dr. Denise Knight is a veteran educator with 32 years of experience having taught numerous grade levels in PK-12, Talented and Gifted education, served as a District-wide Director of Federal Programs and Elementary Curriculum, and as an Elementary Principal. Her background and areas of emphasis include early childhood, elementary, and gifted education, arts integration, instructional leadership, curriculum and instruction, federal programs, data analysis, school improvement, grant writing, and professional development. Dr. Knight has served as a consultant and presenter in many venues at an international, national, regional, and local level. She currently serves as Director of bby Publications at The University of West Alabama, Director of Project REP: Rethinking Rural Educator Preparation Programs (a USDE Teacher Quality Partnership Grant), and as an Associate Professor of Instructional Leadership at the master’s, specialist’s, and doctoral levels. She resides in Meridian, MS with her husband, Joey, who is also a veteran educator. They have two daughters, two grandchildren, and two fur-babies.