Service
- Teacher Mentor, Cabarrus County, 2001-2007.
- School Improvement Team, W. M. Irvin Elementary. 2002-2007.
- Young Authors Chair, W.M. Irvin Elementary School, 2002-2007.
- School Improvement Team, Nathaniel Alexander Elementary. 1996-2002.
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Education Foundation delegate, 1999-2000.
- Executive Board Co-Chair, National Writing Project at Charlotte, 1997- 2007.
- Planning Committee, UNC-Charlotte Fall Writing Conference, 1998.
- Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Participant, Excellence in Education, 1994.
- National Science Resource Center Leadership Institute, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C., 1989.
Professional organizations
- National Writing Project, UNC Charlotte Site, 1985-present.
- International Reading Association, 1994-present.
- National Council of Teachers of English, 1994-present.
- NC Association of Educators and National Education Association, 1980-present.
Outreach for education
- Board of Directors, Countryside Montessori School, 2008-2009.
- Parent-Child Workshop, Understanding The 4th Grade Writing Test, How to Help Your Child Read, Weslyn Snuggs, coordinator, 2006-2007.
- Writing Across the Curriculum One-Day Conference, “Reading, Writing and Preparing for the End of Grade Tests,” NC State University, April 16, 2005.
- Building Blocks of Literacy 2004 Conference, “Talking About Thinking: Modeling Proficient Reader Strategies to Improve Comprehension,” Greater Cabarrus Reading Association, Nov. 6, 2004.
- Parent-Child Workshops, Helping Your Child at Home, W.M. Irvin, 5 evening sessions, 2003-2004.
- Greenville Center Pep Rally, Do Your Best on the Writing Test, April 2001.
- Education Foundation, Community Vision for Quality Public Education, Carole A. Hoefner Community Services Center, summer 1999.
- Leadership Charlotte, Speaker, Education Day, The Future for Teachers in Charlotte, 1998.
- Planning Committee, UNC Charlotte Fall Writing Conference, NC, 1998.
- Communities in Schools, Panelist, How to Help Children Read, 1997.
- Barnes & Noble Panel, Reading Progress for Elementary Students, 1997.
- WBT Radio, Interview, Ray Goodman, Raising Readers, 1997.
- Belk Lunchtime Learning Fair, Creating a Love for Reading at Home, First Union Center, Jan. 1997.
- Television Interview, David Hains, Attracting and Keeping New Teachers, 1997.
- The Charlotte Observer, Consultant and panelist, Raising a Reader, January 1996.
- The Charlotte Observer, Guest Columnist, For the Record, 1996.
- The Charlotte Observer, Letters to the Editor, 1997, 1999.
- CMS Quick Study, Ben Craig Award Winners, Television Interview, December 1996.
Veteran presenter
Karen has presented to groups at individual schools and at major conferences in Charlottesville, Va. and Las Vegas.
A resource for people passionate about helping students write well, compiled by Karen Haag