National Leadership Program, Spring 2024
Kaylee Harris
Kaylee Harris is a Policy and Civic Engagement Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Spring 2024. RespectAbility is a national nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Harris enlisted in the United States Navy immediately following her high school graduation, serving in Damneck, Virginia. After her enlistment, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Educational Psychology. Her thesis focused on Twice Exceptional students and the lack of support they receive in the classroom. Her research focused on students with disabilities and the lack of proper training given to teachers. Harris then went on to teach elementary education in Texas, Hawaii, and Iowa. Her current focus is on the higher education space. She has been working with community colleges in both Iowa and Nebraska while also continuing to support children with IEP’s (Individualized Education Plans) and their families as an IEP Advocate. Her work in community colleges ranges from teaching to working within student services. Her most recent role was the Director of Academic Support. In that role, she oversaw various departments including tutoring, the library, testing centers, the veteran’s center, and disability services.
Harris hopes to someday advance education and accessibility policies to ensure that disabled students of all ages not only have access to an education, but also that educational institutions provide an equitable educational experience without underestimating their students or creating unnecessary barriers to accommodations.
