Kimberly Kohler is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education, an Institute for Education Sciences TIES fellow, and a member of the Lab for School-Based Prevention at Penn State University. Her research interests include increasing teacher retention, effectiveness, and resilience by fostering greater physiological and psychological well-being, emotion regulation, stress-management, and compassion through mindfulness, yoga, and other contemplative practices. Her research specifically focuses on ways to cultivate greater well-being and resilience of novice special education professionals through professional development opportunities during teacher preparation coursework and field experiences. Using multiple methods of data collection, Kim’s dissertation study will examine the impact of the Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE for Teachers) professional development program on teacher candidates at various time points in their program. She currently works with her advisor, Dr. Jennifer Frank, on several large-scale projects including Responding in Emotionally Supportive and Positive Ways in Educational Communications Skills Training Program–Project RESPECT (IES Goal 2) and a randomized control trial of a mindfulness-based intervention for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Kim’s dissertation adviser is Dr. Jenny Frank.
Prior to entering the Special Education program, Kim spent 12 years as a 6th grade Learning Support Teacher at Park Forest Middle School in State College, Pennsylvania. During her time at Park Forest, she was a key faculty resource for a bullying-prevention program (P.R.I.D.E.) as well as an active participant in adapting the 6th grade Mathematics curriculum to meet the needs of all learners.
Kim received her Bachelor of Arts degree in French Literature, a minor in Psychology, and a Master of Education degree in Special Education, all from Penn State University-University Park.
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jenny Frank
Recent Publications Activities
Frank, J., Kohler, K., Khan, L., & Broderick, P. (2019). Mindfulness for adolescents: A review of the learning to BREATHE program. In I. Ivtzan (Ed.), The Handbook of Mindfulness-Based Programmes: Mindfulness Interventions from Education to Health and Therapy (1st Edition). Routledge.
Frank, J. L., Kohler, K., Peal, A., & Bose, B. (2017). Effectiveness of a school-based yoga program on adolescent mental health and school performance: Findings from a randomized control trial. Mindfulness, 7, 1-10.
Ferrara, A., Kohler, K., Rizzo, K., & Panlilio, C. The bidirectional effect of trauma on students and teachers: A case for improved self-care supports. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Frank, J., & Kohler, K. The effectiveness of schoolwide positive behavior and intervention supports (SWPBIS) on adolescent behavior, school engagement, and academic achievement: Findings from a longitudinal multi-wave panel study of secondary schools. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Recent Presentation Activities
Khan, L., Kohler, K., & Frank, J. (2019, April). The mediating role of distress tolerance on teacher burnout. Roundtable presentation presented at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Frank, J., Schussler, D., Kohler, K., Deger, G., Khan, L., Morris, J., & Sturtz, E. (2019, March). Development and preliminary evaluation of Project RESPECT on student and teacher outcomes using a multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) development framework. Presentation as part of a symposium (Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives to Enhance Social-Emotional Learning: Evidence for Three Randomized Control Trials) at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Frank, J. & Kohler, K. (2018, August). Effectiveness of a universal yoga-based program on academic and social-emotional well-being of elementary students. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.
Kohler, K. & Frank, J. (2017, November). Cultivating resilience and well-being: Self-care and wellness strategies for special education professionals. Presentation at the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference, Savannah, Georgia.