Kelly H. Summers

Kelly H. Summers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations (LEPF) within the College of Education at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Her work bridges educational leadership, psychology, and legal aspects of schooling. She teaches key courses in educational administration, adolescent development, and educational psychology.

Research Interests: Dr. Summers focuses on the application of psychological principles in educational leadership, particularly self-determination theory, mental health support by school leaders, and the dynamics of bullying in schools. She also investigates teacher understanding of school law, especially First Amendment rights in public schools.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in interdisciplinary research combining law, policy, psychology, and educational administration. Themes include school safety, bullying prevention, constitutional rights in education, and equity in school funding. These works reflect a commitment to evidence-based policy and practical solutions for K–12 leadership challenges.

Scientific Contributions:

• Developed and validated the Bullying Participant Behaviors Questionnaire (BPBQ).
• Conducted legal and statistical analyses of Illinois school funding equity.
• Explored threat assessment protocols to prevent school violence.
• Examined teacher knowledge of religious freedom in public schools.

Advising and Teaching: Dr. Summers mentors thesis and dissertation students whose research aligns with her expertise. She teaches courses such as LEEA 501 (School Organization), LEEA 727 (Multi-tiered Support Systems), EPS 307 (Adolescent Development), and EPS 300 (Introduction to Educational Psychology). She holds a Ph.D. from NIU and is licensed in Illinois as both a school administrator and school psychologist.

Labs and Teams: While no formal lab is mentioned, her collaborative research with scholars like M.K. Demaray, L.N. Jenkins, and C. Kiracofe indicates active participation in research teams focused on school violence, bullying, and educational policy.