Kay Cutler

Education

B.S. in Psychology from the University of MN
Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Studies from the University of TX-Austin

Academic Interests

Child Development
Visual Thinking Strategies
Design Thinking
Teacher Research/SoTL
Inquiry-Based Learning
Early Childhood Education

Academic Responsibilities

ECE 325 - Inclusion & the Diverse Learner
ECE 360 - Play & Inquiry
ECE 488 - Student Teaching - Community Placements

Committee Activities

EHS Promotion & Tenure Committee Member
Children's Museum of SD Board Member & Exhibit/Experience Committee Chair
East Central Chapter of SDAEYC Membership Co-Coordinator
Early Learner South Dakota - Early Learner Communities Committee Co-Chair
Early Learner South Dakota Funding Committee Member

Awards and Honors

Scholarship Award, 2009-2010, The College of Education and Human Sciences
Outstanding Faculty Award, 2002, The College of Family & Consumer Sciences

Grants

McKillip, A., Cutler, K., Letcher, T., & Silvernagel, C. (2021-2023). Living and Working in Space – Children’s Museum Traveling Exhibit Design. SD Space Grant Consortium Proposal. ($52,298.00).

Garcia, A., Busmann, R., Cutler, K., & Daniels, A.M. (2020 -2021). Practiced-Based Coaching for ECE Enrichment Sites. South Dakota Dept. of Social Services. ($102,435).

Patents

McKillip, A., Letcher, T., Lucchesi, R., Silvernagel, C., Heller, B., Cutler, K., Hume, C., Vaz., A.*, Smither, M.*, Gordon, E.*, Stang, N.*, Heinz, A.*, & Gottsleben, T.* Konnectors Design Patent - April 2022.

Invention Disclosures:
McKillip, A., Letcher T., Silvernagel, C., Lucchesi, R., Cutler, K, Hume, C., Anderson, K., Klarenbeek, T., Phuminpraphat, K., Diekhoff, A., Steers, E., Palmer, T., & Lange, W. Explorer 44. Invention Disclosure, Submitted Oct. 15, 2021.

McKillip, A., Letcher, T., Silvernagel, C., Lucchesi, R., Cutler, K., Hume, C., Elbedawey, M., Sudbeck, A., Hoffman, A., and Kleve, A. Sound Constructor. Invention Disclosure, Submitted Oct., 15, 2021.


McKillip, A., Letcher, T., Lucchesi, R., Silvernagel, C., Heller, B., Cutler K., Hume, C., Blick, K., Resche, E., Stukel, M., and Theisen, S., The Connextion Box Invention Disclosure. Submitted Nov. 13, 2019.

Professional Memberships

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA)

Area(s) of Research

Visual Thinking Strategies in Early Childhood - Using Visual Thinking Strategies to support the development of critical thinking in young children.

Design-Thinking - Studying how interdisciplinary design thinking develops in team members and how the teams create the 'space in-between' for optimal design team functioning.