Before joining the faculty at West Chester University, Dr. Donna Sanderson held a variety of teaching and administrative positions in a public school district in Pennsylvania. She has taught courses for the Department of Literacy at West Chester University, Arcadia University and Gwynedd–Mercy College. At West Chester, Dr. Sanderson's teaching focuses on preparation for teaching early grades, especially the Pre–K Methods & Field courses. Dr. Sanderson's research focuses on the importance of play, working with parents, using hands–on manipulatives as teaching tools and the importance of service–learning experiences for teacher candidates. She has worked with hundreds of WCU students implementing the Cap Kit Program since 2013. Cap Kits are now used in hundreds of classrooms across the US and in schools around the world.