Katherine has taught at Seattle University since 1986. She teaches literacy methods in TEED 521 and directs the Literacy for Special Needs master's program, preparing reading specialists to work with children with specialized literacy needs. Katherine is also chairperson of the Department of Teaching and Learning.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Katherine received her bachelor's degree in English in 1975 and taught high school English and reading in Zillah, Washington. She returned to the UW and earned a master's degree in Developmental Reading in 1981 and the doctorate in Reading/Language Arts in 1985. Katherine's areas of expertise include children's and young adult literature, literacy development at all levels, content area literacy, literature circles, and writing.

Katherine is the author of the middle grade novel, Something to Hold, published in December 2011 by Clarion Books. She blogs with the team at From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors. In addition, Katherine has co-authored four books on literature circles for teachers:Literature Circles and Response (1995); Getting Started with Literature Circles (1999); the Literature Circles Resource Guide (2001); and Literature Circles in Middle School: One Teacher's Journey (2003. Katherine is also webmaster of several web sites for educators, including the Literature Circles Resource Center, and Themed Literature Units.