College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

People

Eileen A Klemm

  • Affiliate Faculty, Evaluation Studies; Check & Connect National Training Director, Institute on Community Integration

Dr. Klemm is the National Training Director and a Researcher for Check & Connect (C&C) at the Institute on Community Integration (ICI).

    DEGREES

    Ph.D., OLPD, Evaluation Studies, University of Minnesota
    M.A., Communication Disorders, University of Minnesota
    B.S., Speech & Hearing Science, University of Minnesota

      AREAS OF INTEREST
      • Implementation science
      • Program fidelity measures
      • Check & Connect student engagement model
      • Self-determination for students with disabilities
        BIOGRAPHY

        Dr. Eileen A. Klemm is an expert in implementation science, program evaluation, and educational interventions, with over 30 years of experience in the field of education. As the National Training Director for Check & Connect® at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration, she leads nationwide training, fidelity tool development, and the large-scale implementation and evaluation of this evidence-based intervention to improve student engagement and reduce dropout rates for K-12 students.


        Dr. Klemm has extensive experience translating research into scalable solutions supporting educators and administrators. She has developed key fidelity evaluation tools, including the Mentor Practice Profile and the Readiness Tool for Implementing Check & Connect, which have been instrumental in scaling the intervention across states and achieving measurable outcomes for at-risk students.


        As Principal Investigator on several federally funded projects, Dr. Klemm has advanced research on integrating the Check & Connect model with the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction as well as other Tier I and Tier II educational interventions and supports. She is an accomplished presenter, sharing her expertise at international and national conferences.
         

          AWARDS

          Outstanding Service Award, Institute on Community Integration, 2021

            PRESENTATIONS

            Invited Presentations

            Custer, K., Geist, L., Klemm, E., & Metz, E.  (2024, October). Scaling and Growth: Exploring Partnership and Investment Opportunities (Invited Panel Presentation). Stepping Up Implementation Grantees Cross-Cohort In-Person Fall Gathering, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, Washington DC.


            Klemm, E. (2019, November). Check & Connect. Nordic Mentoring Summit, Oslo, Norway.


            Klemm, E., Laulunen, S. N., & Crane, J. D. (2019, April). Full Implementation of Tier 2 and Tier 3 Interventions in a PBS Framework: A High School's Journey. Minnesota PBIS Forum, Minnesota Department of Education, Roseville, MN.


            Klemm, E. (2016, September). Check & Connect: A Comprehensive Student Engagement Intervention. 1st Annual California PBIS Coalition Conference, California PBIS Coalition, Sacramento, CA.


            Klemm, E. (2014, October). Check & Connect: A Comprehensive Student Engagement and Dropout Prevention Intervention. 44th Annual Conference, Illinois Association of School Social Workers, Lisle, IL.


            Other Presentations


            Shogren, K., Klemm, E., and Bruno, L. (2025, October). Mentoring for Success: Integrating Check & Connect and the SDLMI. Division of Career Development and Transition International Conference, Council for Exceptional Children, Denver, CO.

            Houseworth, J., Klemm, E., & Kramme, J. (2024, October). A systematic literature review of the Check & Connect program: Evidence of program impact. Check & Connect 2024 Global Reach Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

            Johnson, D.R. & Klemm, E. (2023, October). Technology Supports for Implementation Effectiveness: Check & Connect. Division of Career Development and Transition International Conference, Council for Exceptional Children, Reno, NV.

            Klemm, E. (2023, September). Check & Connect: Individualized Support at Tier 3. Communities in Schools- Virginia Summit, Richmond, VA.

            Klemm, E. (2022, April). Check & Connect: Monitoring & Increasing Students’ Academic, Behavioral, Cognitive, and Affective Engagement. 19th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support, San Diego, CA.

            Johnson, D.R. & Klemm, E. (2021, March). Check & Connect: Monitor & Increase Students' Engagement. 18th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support, Online Conference.

            Klemm, E. (2019, March). Check & Connect: Monitoring Students' Academic and Positive Behavioral Progress Towards Graduation. Pac Rim International Conference on Disability & Diversity, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Center on Disability Studies, Honolulu, HI.

            Johnson, D. R., & Klemm, E. (2019, February). Check & Connect: Monitoring Students’ Academic and Positive Behavioral Progress Toward Graduation. 16th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support, Washington, DC.
            Qian, X., & Klemm, E. (2018, March). Mentorship from Juvenile Justice into the Community: Student, Caregiver, and Mentor Perspectives. 15th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support, San Diego, CA.

            Klemm, E. (2018, March). A Beginner’s Guide to Implementing Check & Connect. 21st Annual National School Social Work Conference, Columbus, OH.

            Klemm, E. (2018, March). Evaluating Check & Connect: A Path for Successful Implementation and Increased Results. 21st Annual National School Social Work Conference, Columbus, OH.

            Klemm, E. & Sullivan, M. (2018, February). Statewide Scale-up of Check & Connect for Students in Grades 6-12. CEC 2018 Special Education Convention & Expo, Council for Exceptional Children, Tampa, FL.

            Klemm, E. (2017, October). How to Use the Student Engagement Instrument to Increase Student Engagement. Student Engagement Conference, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

            Klemm, E. (2017, October). Supporting Comprehensive Small- and Large-Scale Implementation with the C&C App. Student Engagement Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

            Klemm, E., Wood, B., & Blazic, S. (2017, March). Check & Connect: Statewide Scale-Up Within a PBIS Framework Through Collaborative Efforts. 14th International Conference on Positive Behavioral Supports, Denver, CO.

            Klemm, E. & Moran, L. (2016, September). Check & Connect and Pennsylvania CAPS. CASE/NASDSE Conference, Council for Administrators of Special Education/National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Milwaukee, WI.

            Klemm, E. (2016, March). Check & Connect: A Comprehensive Student Engagement Intervention. 19th National School Social Work Conference, School Social Work Association of America, Baltimore, MD.

            Klemm, E. & Echternacht, J. K. (2015, April). Making a Map: Finding My Way Back: Model Demonstration Project. Council for Exceptional Children, San Diego, CA.

            Klemm, E. & Echternacht, J. K. (2015, January). Finding My Way Back: Mentorship from the Correctional Facility to the Community. National Mentoring Summit, National Mentor Partnership (MENTOR), Washington, DC.

            Klemm, E. & Graham, J. (2014, April). Making a MAP: Finding My Way Back. National Forum on Dropout Prevention for Native and Tribal Communities, National Dropout Prevention Center Network, Prior Lake, MN.

            Klemm, E. (2014, March). Check & Connect: An Evidence-Based Student Engagement/Dropout Prevention Model. School Social Workers Association of America, Chicago, IL.
             

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