Our “Get to Know Our EduDawgs” series celebrates the incredible undergraduate and graduate students who make up the UW College of Education community. Through student interviews and storytelling, we’re highlighting the passions, experiences and perspectives that shape their journeys — in the classroom, in the community and beyond. 🌎✨ 

Each story is a glimpse into what drives our future educators, researchers and advocates to make a difference. 

Editor's note: This interview was requested and coordinated by student associate Winston N. through the College of Education’s partnership with Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School.

Supporting Students for Success 

Sarah Kaufman (PhD, School Psychology; advisor: Dr. Kristen Missall)

Hometown: Twin Cities, MN

Experience: teaching assistant, doctoral student, researcher

Inspiration: "My parents, my peers within and across cohorts who continue to support one another, and the children whose growth and journeys I have the privilege to be part of." 

Sarah Kaufman has always believed that every child deserves a strong start. As a fifth-year school psychology student at the University of Washington, she has spent years turning that belief into action, working to help children and families succeed both emotionally and academically.

Her journey began in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, where she grew up before heading to UC Santa Barbara for college. There, she studied psychological and brain sciences and picked up minors in applied psychology and education. Those early classes and research experiences opened her eyes to the world of school psychology and ultimately led her to UW, where she has continued to build on that foundation.

At the heart of Kaufman's work is a deep care for young children. She focuses on early childhood social-emotional development, helping kids and their families during some of the most important years of their lives. Her goal is simple but powerful: to help children develop the emotional and social skills they need before they even walk through the doors of a formal K-12 school. When kids have that foundation early on, they are better prepared for preschool and everything that comes after.

But her work does not stop there. Kaufman also supports older students and teenagers who face challenges like anxiety, learning disabilities, and other difficulties that can make school feel overwhelming. She approaches these students with the same warmth and care, focused not just on helping them do better in class but on making sure they feel supported in their everyday lives. For her, success means looking at the whole child, their mental health and their future.

One of the highlights of Kaufman's journey so far has been receiving a nationally competitive grant for her research.  Her dissertation examines teacher-implemented self-regulation interventions in inclusive preschool classrooms, aiming to support preschooler's social-emotional development and identify strategies that are both feasible and meaningful for teachers. She was surprised and excited when she found out. She had gone in without many expectations, which made the news feel even sweeter. More than anything, it was a sign that her research ideas were meaningful and that the questions she was asking truly mattered in her field.  

Getting to that point was not something she did alone. Her advisor played a big role in helping her navigate the application process, answering her questions and offering guidance along the way. That support made all the difference, especially for someone stepping into unfamiliar territory for the first time. It is a reminder of how much having the right person in your corner can shape your path.

Kaufman also learned an important lesson along the way — start early. Grant deadlines have a way of sneaking up on you, and being organized and prepared ahead of time is key. Her biggest piece of advice to fellow students is to go for it, even when it feels uncertain. You never know what can happen when you take that first step.

Through it all, Sarah Kaufman has stayed true to what drives her, a genuine desire to make life a little better for the students and families she works with. From the youngest children just finding their footing to teenagers navigating some of the hardest years of their lives, she shows up with care, dedication, and a belief that every child has the potential to thrive.