Katie Naron is a Lecturer of Teacher Education.
Biography
Katie Naron is a career educator with more than 21 years of experience serving students, teachers, and communities across Mississippi. She is a Lecturer of Teacher Education in the School of Education at the University of Mississippi, where she prepares future educators through courses in educational foundations, curriculum development, and literacy instruction. Prior to joining the University of Mississippi faculty, she taught fourth grade in the Water Valley School District.
Coming from a family of educators, Naron has built her career around the belief that meaningful relationships with students are foundational to effective teaching and learning. Her research and professional interests focus on early literacy foundations, teacher preparation, and innovative instructional practices. She has presented at national, regional, and state conferences on literacy education and integrating movement and music in the classroom. She has also co-authored two textbooks focused on literacy instruction and assessment.
Throughout her career, Naron has been recognized for excellence in teaching and service. Her honors include being named the Water Valley School District Teacher of the Year in 2012 and the Oxford Eagle Best Professor in 2019. She received the University of Mississippi School of Education Outstanding Teacher Award in 2024 and 2022. In recognition of her service to the university community, she was named Sorority Advisor of the Year in 2021 and Faculty Member of the Year in 2022 by the University of Mississippi's Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program and was a fellow of the Mississippi Education Policy Fellowship.
Naron earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Mississippi and is proud to serve on the faculty of her alma mater, working alongside colleagues to prepare Mississippi's next generation of educators.
Beyond her work in higher education, Naron has taught etiquette classes throughout the Southeast for the past 12 years. She is passionate about equipping individuals with the confidence, communication skills, and social awareness needed to navigate a variety of personal and professional settings.
Her commitment to service extends throughout the Oxford and North Mississippi communities. She has served as board president of Leap Frog, finance chair for the Junior Auxiliary of Oxford, and a leader of a major fundraising campaign for the Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi. She has also served for 15 years on the Tri Delta Chapter Advisory Board. Naron and her husband, David, have three children who attend Oxford Public Schools, where she continues her commitment to education and community engagement through her service to the Parent-Teacher Association, where she has served as president and vice president. Naron was named Davidson Elementary School Parent of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year.
Publications
Education
B.A. Elementary Education, University of Mississippi (2004)
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, University of Mississippi (2005)