Kimber L. Wilkerson

Kimber L. Wilkerson is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Education. She specializes in teacher preparation for students with disabilities, retention strategies for special educators in rural/urban schools, and alternative school interventions. Her work focuses on enhancing academic and social outcomes for students with disabilities through innovative instructional models.

Education:

• PhD in Special Education, University of Washington (1997)
• MEd in Special Education, University of Washington (1991)
• BA in Computer Studies, Northwestern University (1987)

Research Interests:

• Teacher preparation programs for special educators
• Educator retention in underserved communities
• Efficacy of alternative school interventions
• Reading interventions for students with disabilities

Grants & Leadership:

• Principal Investigator of IES-funded Project ACRES (virtual coaching for rural special educators)
• Director of Milwaukee Public Schools residency program (Teacher Quality Partnership grant)
• Co-PI of master's-level personnel preparation grants
• Former associate dean of teacher education and Wisconsin Association of Colleges for Teacher Education president

Awards:

• 2015-16 Fulbright U.S. Scholar
• 2007 Fellow of UW-Madison Teaching Academy

Labs/Programs: Leads Project ACRES and collaborates with Milwaukee Public Schools on teacher residency initiatives. Active in the AACTE Networked Improvement Community addressing special educator shortages.