United States
I study how education systems can be designed to sustain early learning gains as children move from Pre-K into K–12 — and why so many fail to. My research focuses on principal leadership, PreK–3 policy, and the structural conditions that shape early childhood education within traditional school districts. My work has been funded by IES, NSF, and the Belk Foundation, among others — totaling over $1M in external support. Recent projects include developing and validating the Principal Early Leadership Scale (PELS) and a statewide survey of North Carolina principals examining beliefs and practices related to early grades leadership. I publish in outlets like Early Childhood Research Quarterly and Educational Researcher. If you work in early ed research, policy, or philanthropy — or are building something at the intersection of leadership and early learning — I'd welcome a connection.
Tenured faculty member studying principal leadership and PreK–3 policy within K–12 systems. Lead an externally funded research program — with over $1M from IES, NSF, and the Belk Foundation — examining how district structures and school leaders shape early learning outcomes and equity. -Developed and validated the Principal Early Leadership Scale (PELS), a field-tested measure of principals' early education beliefs and practices. -Conducted a statewide survey of North Carolina principals on early grades leadership, generating one of the largest datasets of its kind in the state. -Published 45+ peer-reviewed articles in outlets including Early Childhood Research Quarterly and Elementary School Journal. -Teach doctoral seminars in education policy and serve as Faculty Senator at NC State.