Webinar Overview
Tribute Webinar: Proverbs, Analogies, and Above Level Reading with Dr. Kathy Hopkins
Join us for a special May Tribute Webinar honoring the legacy of Dr. Kathy Hopkins, whose leadership, wisdom, and passion for helping students with learning differences shaped NILD for decades.
This tribute webinar features three short instructional video vignettes presented by Kathy on Proverbs, Analogies, and Above Level Reading, along with a guided viewing guide designed to encourage reflection and practical application. Through Kathy’s own teaching and insights, participants will be reminded of the hope, intentionality, and belief in every learner that defined her work and legacy.
Through these technique demonstrations and guided reflections, participants will explore how Kathy approached Educational Therapy with clarity, compassion, and a deep understanding of cognitive development and mediated learning.
Participants will:
Examine instructional strategies demonstrated through Kathy Hopkins’ technique vignettes
Explore ways intentional mediation and questioning support cognitive growth and student understanding
Reflect on Kathy’s approach to helping students “learn how to learn”
Consider practical applications of Proverbs, Analogies, and Above Level Reading within Educational Therapy sessions
Gain insight into the hope-filled philosophy that shaped Kathy’s leadership, teaching, and mentorship
This tribute webinar offers both practical insight and meaningful reflection as we honor Kathy’s lasting impact on NILD, Educational Therapy, and the countless educators and students she inspired.
About Your Instructors
Dr. Kathleen Hopkins, EdD, NILD PCET
Dr. Kathleen Hopkins devoted her life to helping students with learning differences discover hope, confidence, and the ability to learn. With more than four decades in education, Kathy became a beloved leader, mentor, speaker, and author whose influence shaped educators and students around the world.
She earned a B.S.Ed. from the University of Delaware, an M.A.Ed. from Regent University, and both an Ed.S. and Ed.D. in Administration and Special Education from The College of William & Mary. Kathy began her work with the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) in the mid-1980s as an Educational Therapist at Norfolk Christian Schools and later served as NILD’s Executive Director from 1991–2011.
A respected national and international speaker and the author of How to Learn in a What-to-Learn Culture and Getting a Grip, Kathy helped countless educators better understand learning differences, resilience, and the God-given potential of every learner. Her legacy continues through the lives of the students, educators, and families she impacted with wisdom, compassion, and unwavering hope.
Dr. Kristin Barbour, EdD, NILD PCET
Dr. Kristin Barbour is deeply committed to advancing NILD’s mission of helping students with learning differences flourish through cognitive transformation. Her passion is bringing life-long learning to life and developing independent, confident learners. An internationally respected educator and keynote speaker, Kristin combines expertise in educational therapy, speech-language pathology, and cognitive development to support effective, research-based intervention for struggling learners.
In addition to serving as NILD’s Executive Director, Kristin is a certified Educational Therapist and an authorized trainer in the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment Program. Prior to joining NILD, she directed Discovery Program, Inc. (DPI), a community-based organization serving students with dyslexia, learning disabilities, and ADHD in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Kristin earned her EdD from Johns Hopkins University in the Mind, Brain, and Teaching program.
