The Department of Teaching and Learning

Kathy Hargrove, Ph.D.
Associate Dean & Senior Lecturer

Dr. Hargrove has been an educator for more years than she likes to count, teaching in a variety of assignments from an inner city high school to kindergarten in a small Texas town.  She held positions in the Plano I.S.D. for more than 20 years as a middle school and high school teacher, English department chairman, curriculum writer, curriculum coordinator, and Director of Advanced Academic Studies.  Highlights of her public school career include obtaining the first grant for a gifted program in the district and the subsequent development and expansion of that program as well as authorship of curriculum focusing on critical thinking, gifted education, and effective assessment strategies.

In addition to her district responsibilities, Dr. Hargrove served districts, regional service centers, and the state as a consultant, teacher trainer, and keynote speaker.  She taught in SMU’s Talented and Gifted Program for more than five years.  Active in the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented, she was elected as a member of the TAGT Board of Directors and First Vice President.  In 1993 she was elected president of the 8,000-member organization.  In 2000 the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) and the University of North Texas named her “Outstanding Administrator of the Year in Gifted Education”.

Dr. Hargrove came to SMU in 1992 as Director of the Gifted Students Institute and led in expanding the Institute’s services.   Institute programs now include workshops and lectures for educators and parents and Saturday programs for young gifted children.  She led in gaining state approval of a graduate endorsement program in gifted education that has consistently been one of the largest in the state.  In 2000 she assumed additional responsibilities as the Director of the Center for Teacher Education.  Under her leadership, student enrollment and faculty have expanded and new Master of Education and Master Reading Teacher program were implemented. 

Her research interests are in the area of gifted education and curriculum and instruction as well as in program evaluation.  She has served as lead evaluator in a number of large and small school districts in Texas.  A regular columnist in Gifted Child Today, she serves as a reviewer for the journal for teachers and parents of gifted children. 

Dr. Hargrove earned a B.A. in English and history from Baylor University, and M.A. in English from Texas A & M (Commerce), and a Ph.D. from Texas Woman’s University.  She holds Texas K-12 and reading specialist certification.

E-Mail Dr. Hargrove (click here)