Kaleigh Pickett, Ed.S., is an instructor and assistant school director in the School of Special Education, Leadership, and Professional Studies at Missouri State University. She teaches courses in assessment of exceptional learners and co-coordinates the Pathways for Paras Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program. Kaleigh is currently pursuing a PhD in Special Education at the University of Northern Colorado, with research interests focused on teacher apprenticeship, competency-based teacher preparation, assessment practices, and policy-informed strategies to strengthen and diversify the special education workforce.