Denise L. Calhoun is a national board-certified distinguished teacher in language arts. She holds a master's degree in educational psychology from California State University, Northridge; a teaching credential from the Graduate Department of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles; and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles. Calhoun mentors new teachers for the Los Angeles Unified School District and is a master teacher for California State University, Northridge, where she trains candidates for their credential program. Her research focuses on gerontology and health care. She is pursuing her doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University.