Dr. Calabrese, Associate Professor of Education, teaches courses in literacy, language arts, early childhood curriculum and educational methodology. She has also taught courses in foundations for teaching and learning and courses for the reading specialist validation. She enjoys teaching WittSems, interdisciplinary courses for all freshmen, and supervising student teachers.

From 1997-2007, Calabrese directed the Springfield City Schools/Wittenberg University Alliance for Professional Growth and directs the Mentorship Program for Entry year teachers in the Springfield City Schools. She has consistently collaborated with the Clark County ESC to provide staff development and mentorship training for teachers outside the city system. She has served as a Praxis assessor for the Ohio Department of Education, and as a Pathwise trainer, she prepared classroom teachers for mentoring and peer coaching of both preservice and inservice teachers.

Her research, writing and presentations address the professional lives of teachers and issues of professional development, early childhood education and collaboration between schools and the university. Currently Calabrese is working in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio State University on the development and dissemination of professional development for early childhood educators across the state. This work with Early Language and Literacy Specialists (ELLS), and early childhood educators has focused on action research and portfolio construction as ways of facilitating and demonstrating professional growth, especially as it pertains to literacy instruction.

Calabrese earned her B. A. from Wright State University, her M. S. from the University of Dayton, and her Ph.D. from Miami University. She joined the Wittenberg faculty in 1990 after seventeen years as a reading specialist and classroom teacher.

Calabrese is a long time resident of Springfield and has been active in various organizations including Junior Service League, the Arts Council, Literacy Coalition and Volunteer Service Bureau. She enjoys walking, reading, spending time with family, and doting on her four grandchildren.

Contact Information:

• kcalabrese@wittenberg.edu