Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education

Kimber L. Wilkerson

Professor, Department Chair

klwilkerson@wisc.edu

(608) 263-4362

407 Education Building

1000 Bascom Mall

Madison, WI 53706

Wilkerson, Kimber

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Kimber L. Wilkerson, Ph.D., is a professor of special education and chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Wilkerson has expertise in the preparation of teachers to provide instruction to students with disabilities to improve their long-term academic and social outcomes. She also investigates supports designed to retain special educators in both rural and urban schools. Dr. Wilkerson is currently the principal investigator (PI) of a research grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to develop and examine virtual coaching and an online community of practice for rural special educators (Project ACRES). She also directs a residency program in collaboration with the Milwaukee Public Schools, funded by a Teacher Quality Partnership grant. Dr. Wilkerson has directed several teacher preparation programs and is currently co-PI of two master’s level personnel preparation grants and PI of a doctoral leadership grant. Dr. Wilkerson was a member of a Networked Improvement Community convened by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) focused on strategies to address chronic shortages of special educators. Dr. Wilkerson was formerly a special educator in Seattle Public Schools and is a former associate dean of teacher education and past president of the Wisconsin Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Education

  • PhD Special Education, University of Washington, 1997
  • M Ed Special Education, University of Washington, 1991
  • BA Computer Studies, Northwestern University, 1987

Select Publications

  • Afacan, K., & Wilkerson, K. L. (2019). The effectiveness of behavior-focused alternative middle schools for students with disabilities. Behavioral Disorders, 45(1), 41-52.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Afacan, K., Perzigian, A. B., Courtright, M., & Lange, L. (2018). Alternative and traditional high school enrollment: An analysis of one urban district. Journal of At Risk Issues, 21(2), 13-21.
  • Afacan, K., Wilkerson, K. L., & Ruppar, A. (2017). Multicomponent reading interventions for students with intellectual disability. Remedial and Special Education, 39, 242-299.
  • Yan, M. C., & Wilkerson, K. L. (2017). Reading instruction in juvenile correctional facilities for students with and without disabilities. Journal of Correctional Education, 68(2), 37-60.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Afacan, K., Yan, M., Justin, W., & Datar, S. (2016). Academic remediation-focused alternative schools: Impact on student outcomes. Remedial and Special Education., 37, 66-77.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Afacan, K., Perzigian, A. B., Justin, W., & Lequia, J. L. (2016). Behavior-focused alternative schools: Impact on student outcomes. Behavioral Disorders, 41, 81-94.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Yan, M., Perzigian, A., & Cakiroglu, O. (2016). Supplementary reading instruction in alternative high schools: A statewide survey of educator reported practices and barriers.. The High School Journal, 99, 166-178.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Perzigian, A. B., & Schurr, J. L. (2013). Promoting Social Skills in the Inclusive Classroom. New York: Guilford Press.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Gagnon, J. C., Mason-Williams, L., & Lane, H. B. (2012). Reading instruction for students with high incidence disabilities in juvenile corrections. Preventing School Failure, 56, 219-231.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Gagnon, J. C., Melekoglu, M. A., & Cakiroglu, O. (2012). Reading instruction in secondary day treatment and residential schools for youth with emotional or behavioral disorders.. Remedial and Special Education, 33, 78-88.

Select Presentations

  • Wilkerson, K. L. (2018, November). Examining and responding to the critical issue of personnel shortages in special education. Panel presented at the Annual Meeting of the Teacher Education Division (TED) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Las Vegas, NV.
  • Afacan, K., & Wilkerson, K. L. (2017, April). Academic behavior outcomes in behavior-focused alternative middle schools. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.
  • Wilkerson, K. L. (2016, June). The Education of Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). Lecture presented at the Public Lecture, Eskisehir, Turkey.
  • Wilkerson, K. L. (2016, May). Twice Exceptional: Educating Students Labeled Gifted and LD. Workshop presented at the Workshop, Eskisehir, Turkey.
  • Wilkerson, K. L. (2016, May). Special Education Practice and Teacher Preparation in the U.S. Lecture presented at the Guest Lecture, Trabzon, Turkey.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Datar, S. D., Yan, M., & Afacan, K. (2015, April). Academic remediation-focused alternative schools: Impact on student outcomes. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.

Select Awards and Honors

  • 2015-16 Academic Year Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Fulbright-Hays, Senior Researcher Program, (2015, 2016)
  • Fellow of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Teaching Academy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007