As a research associate, Grace Calisi focuses on high school reform and postsecondary programs for low-income and at-risk youth.

Since joining WestEd in April 1998, Calisi has conducted extensive research on the topics of high school reform and small schools as well as national and state reform efforts. She is coauthor of the Rethinking High Schools series and director of On The Right Track conferences, both of which have been disseminated to a wide audience including practitioners, parents, and community members. Calisi is also a member of the Western Regional Laboratory where she assists in the development and design of an annual statewide conference showcasing and sharing successful classroom and schoolwide strategies.

Prior to joining WestEd, Calisi was a high school teacher in an urban high school in New Jersey.

Calisi received an EdM in secondary education from Rutgers University, New Jersey, and a BA in economics from Richard Stockton College, Pomona, New Jersey.