Simone Breit

Professor Simone Breit is Head of the Department of Elementary Education at the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria (PH NÖ) in Baden near Vienna, where she was appointed to a university professorship in December 2024. With a PhD in Educational Science from the University of Salzburg (2024), she has established herself as a leading researcher in early childhood education, particularly focusing on caring culture, educational transitions, and inclusive practices.

Her research interests encompass early childhood education, inclusive education practices, educational transitions between kindergarten and primary school, care ethics in educational settings, mentoring models for new educators, and the implementation of educational frameworks. Professor Breit approaches these topics through both theoretical frameworks and practical applications, often developing tools and resources for educators.

Her recent publications show a strong trend toward examining educational care ethics ('Caring Culture'), inclusive practices in early childhood settings, and the practical implementation of educational frameworks. The research spans theoretical explorations of care ethics to empirical studies of kindergarten-school transitions and inclusive practices, with significant attention to practical applications for educators.

Professor Breit actively mentors through multiple academic programs she leads, including the Bachelor's program 'Elementarbildung: Inclusion and Leadership' and several specialized Master's programs. She has received research funding supporting her work on educational transitions, inclusive practices, and care ethics in early childhood settings.

She leads the Department of Elementary Education while coordinating multiple academic programs, serving on university committees, and developing practical educational resources including the 'Selbstfürsorge und Teamresilienz' online toolbox, children's books addressing migration and kindergarten experiences, and guidelines for values education.