wheeler

Kathryn A. (Katie) Wheeler

Research Associate

Kathryn A. Wheeler, Ed.D. (Katie) is a Research Associate at the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST). Her area of expertise is in assessing the quality of out-of-school-time programs, and she has a special interest in programs designed to empower girls.

Wheeler’s current projects at NIOST include: (1) serving as an APT Master Observer for NIOST’s multi-year project with Boston Afterschool & Beyond, a public-private partnership that aims to increase year-round learning opportunities for under-served youth in Boston; (2) investigation of the impact of GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) participation in Franklin County, Pennsylvania funded by the McElhattan Foundation; (3) examination of links between social emotional learning and literacy development among children in high-quality 21st Century Community Learning Centers as part of the Quality to Outcomes Study conducted in partnership with American Institutes for Research (AIR) and funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation; (4) work with the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE) curating a free, online resource library for the OST field; and (5) co-facilitation of the National Afterschool Matters (NASM) Fellowship Program, a year-long intensive professional development opportunity for out-of-school-time practitioners funded by the Robert Bowne Foundation.

Wheeler worked at NIOST in the 1990s, then took a hiatus to serve as the founding Executive Director of the Girls’ Coalition of Greater Boston, an organization that supported girls by offering professional development, networking, advocacy, and collaboration opportunities for adults working with or on behalf of girls. She later served as Editor of Teen Voices, a magazine by, for, and about adolescent girls. She returned to NIOST in 2016. Wheeler holds a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Education from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with honors from Pitzer College. She is co-president of the Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation and the proud mother of three teenage children.

Phone: 781-283-2607
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  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST has been an anchor for numerous school age care projects we do, including ASQ (After-School Quality) and Links to Learning. They are a nationally respected organization that Pennsylvania has partnered with for over 20 years."



    – Betsy O. Saatman, TA Specialist/SAC Initiatives, Pennsylvania Key
  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST was a core partner in supporting the development of quality improvement systems across the nine cities that participated in The Wallace Foundation Next Generation Afterschool System-Building Initiative. The NIOST team worked well with other technical assistance partners in the initiative, always willing to pitch in and collaborate with others to make our professional learning community meetings a team effort. I truly hope the Foundation has an opportunity to partner with them in the future."


    – Priscilla M. Little, Initiative Manager, The Wallace Foundation

  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST has been a leader in the out-of-school time field for as long as I can remember, and I have relied on their research, tools, and advice to improve my practice throughout my career. Their staff members are good partners and good listeners, and their influence across the country is palpable."


    – Jane Quinn, Vice President and Director of National Center for Community Schools, Children's Aid Society
  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "Georgia Hall, Ellen Gannett, and the NIOST team have been instrumental in driving the healthy afterschool movement. Their dedication to quality practice, informed policy, and collective impact is instrumental in our effort to create healthier communities."



    – Daniel W. Hatcher, Director, Community Partnerships, Alliance for a Healthier Generation

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The National Institute on Out-of-School Time

A program of the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College

Wellesley Centers for Women
Wellesley College
106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02481-8203 USA

niost@wellesley.edu
781.283.2547
Directions to NIOST