Kimberley Kennedy

Affiliation

Our Lady of the Lake University

Biography

Dr. Kimberley Kennedy is an educator, researcher, and speaker with over 30 years of experience in Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE), literacy, and special education. She serves as Associate Professor of Bilingual Special Education and Literacy Education at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. Her work bridges classroom realities with research-based innovation, helping educators design instruction that honors language, identity, and belonging. She partners with districts nationwide to strengthen DLBE programs, advance biliteracy, and deepen learning across content areas. Known for her energy and down-to-earth style, Dr. Kennedy turns complex linguistic and literacy concepts into clear, actionable practice. Her interactive sessions on Spanish accentuation, metalinguistic awareness, and translanguaging empower teachers to elevate student achievement and confidence in both languages. She has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and numerous invited chapters on biliteracy, multilingualism, and inclusive education. Having grown up in Spain, Germany, and the U.S.—and later studying and teaching in Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Ecuador—Dr. Kennedy brings a global lens to local classrooms. As both an educator and a dual-language mom who raised simultaneous bilingual children, she remains committed to nurturing bilingualism, biliteracy, and belonging—one student, one teacher, and one community at a time.