About
Dr. Kathleen (Kathy) Gilboy, Ed.D. is an Assistant Professor of Education at Carroll College and instructor for special education coursework. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Special Education from Carroll College in 1986. She later completed a Master of Science in Learning Development at Montana State University–Northern and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with an emphasis in Higher Education, from Concordia University–Portland.
Dr. Gilboy retired from public education after a 26-year teaching career, including 23 years as a special educator in the East Helena School District, primarily at East Valley Middle School. Her professional expertise centers on behavior management and instructional support for students with disabilities.
At Carroll College, Dr. Gilboy teaches courses including Introduction to Exceptional Children; Students with High-Incidence Disabilities; Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities; Collaboration and Conferencing Techniques in Special Education; Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education; Methods for Teaching Students with Learning and Behavior Disorders; Administration of Special Education Programs; and Methods of Teaching Middle School.
Dr. Gilboy’s connection to Carroll College began in the fall of 1981, when she arrived from Casper, Wyoming, to begin her freshman year. After moving into Guadalupe Hall, she quickly developed a deep sense of belonging within Carroll’s close-knit Catholic liberal arts community. During her time as a student, she formed lifelong friendships and met her husband, Tim, also a Carroll graduate.
Although she always knew she wanted to become a teacher, her passion for special education developed while attending Carroll. Inspired by her younger sister with Down syndrome and her parents’ advocacy, Dr. Gilboy committed her career to supporting students with disabilities and their families.
Her first teaching position was at Trinity School in Canyon Creek, Montana, a two-room schoolhouse where she taught grades three through six for three years. She later transitioned to special education in East Helena, where she spent the majority of her career supporting middle school students.
Returning to Carroll College had long been a professional goal, and in August 2013 she joined the Education Department to prepare future educators. She completed her doctoral degree in 2019 while serving on the Carroll faculty.
Outside of teaching, Dr. Gilboy enjoys cooking and trying new recipes, knitting, embroidery and beading, and spending time outdoors. She especially enjoys not being outdoors during the winter months, but especially loves relaxing on her deck in the summer evenings while tending flowers and watching birds.