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New report could help school districts sustain principal pipeline initiatives
As fewer people enter the education profession and high rates of principal turnover persist, school districts need strategic and systematic approaches to recruiting, hiring, and supporting effective school leaders. Principal pipelines may be the answer. Principal pipelines are a comprehensive and aligned system for identifying, developing, and supporting school leaders. Read MoreApr 2, 2025
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Blending passions: how Vanderbilt alumnus Alex Astrella merges film and therapy to advocate for the neurodiverse community
By Jenna Somers Alex Astrella At age two Alex Astrella, MEd’23, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. His parents were told that he had little chance of graduating high school or becoming financially independent. Today, Astrella is the founder and CEO of Blu Star Productions, an award-winning film studio… Read MoreApr 1, 2025
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New tool maps how states govern early childhood programs
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University Peabody College of education and human development has launched the Early Childhood Governance Landscape, a new tool that illustrates how states structure early childhood governance—and what those choices mean for coordination, funding, and access to services for young children… Read MoreApr 1, 2025
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Vanderbilt resource for educators reports 29 percent boost in professional development reach
By Jennifer Kiilerich A teacher’s education doesn’t stop when they graduate from college and enter the classroom. Like all fields, professional development is pivotal to progress, and Vanderbilt University’s IRIS Center, housed in Peabody College of education and human development, meets that need… Read MoreMar 31, 2025
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Cognitive neuroscientist Laurie Cutting wins SEC Faculty Achievement Award
Laurie Cutting, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Special Education (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University) Laurie E. Cutting, a pioneering educational neuroscientist devoted to unlocking the mysteries of brain function in learning, has been named the 2025 SEC Faculty Achievement Award winner from Vanderbilt University. The annual award honors… Read MoreMar 28, 2025
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Vanderbilt research discovers new brain injury impairments to everyday communication skills
In two recent studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, moderate-severe TBI was associated with difficulties in communication, namely remembering spoken language and integrating information in gesture with speech. Both impairments can inhibit a person’s ability to understand and effectively communicate with others, but the research teams hope the studies’ findings could pave the way for improved therapies and assessments to help people with TBI communicate more easily in their daily lives. Read MoreMar 24, 2025
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Burke awarded grants on disabilities services, autism siblings
By Jennifer Kiilerich Meghan Burke, professor of special education at Peabody College Only about 20 percent of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities currently access formal support services. Meghan Burke, professor of special education at Vanderbilt Peabody College, has built a career around growing that number, helping… Read MoreMar 20, 2025
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Choosing the best school for your child: a Q&A with independent school expert Carrie Grimes
By Jenna Somers and Krystal Schmidt Tennessee’s Education Freedom Act of 2025 takes effect in the 2025-2026 school year. In the first year, the Tennessee Department of Education will award 20,000 state-funded scholarships, commonly known as vouchers, to eligible families to support their children’s attendance at scholarship-accepting private schools. Read MoreMar 19, 2025
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Nashville high school students present science research at Vanderbilt symposium
On March 3, more than 150 high school students from Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools participated in the Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program (ISR) at John Overton High School. ISR is one of several programs of the Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (CSEO) at Vanderbilt University Peabody… Read MoreMar 18, 2025
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South Asian Climate Champions Fellows visit Vanderbilt University
By Jenna Somers Climate Champions Fellows touring Vanderbilt’s campus South Asian university students who won Climate Champions Fellowships through the Student Society for Climate Change Awareness’s Climate Tank Accelerator visited Vanderbilt University in February, supported by a U.S. State Department grant. The fellows were from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan,… Read MoreMar 17, 2025
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Metacognitive-driven “exit tickets” could improve high school math performance, unlock STEM pathways
By Jennifer Kiilerich More than 60 percent of American students aged 12-18 are interested in a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to a 2023 Walton Family Foundation survey. On the road to a life in STEM, proficiency in high school math has been identified by researchers as… Read MoreMar 6, 2025
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New scholarship opens doors for neurodiverse learners
The scholarship, with funds provided by Vanderbilt University, will support students in the Next Steps at Vanderbilt program. Based in Peabody College of education and human development, Next Steps is a four-year, postsecondary certificate program for neurodiverse students. “This scholarship is an exciting development that aligns with the… Read MoreMar 5, 2025
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Exploring Chile’s labor market outcomes amidst regional disparities in higher education access
Matias Fresard Rapid technological innovation continues to demand specialized training for workers, meaning that higher education plays an increasingly important role in supporting the development of local labor markets. For Matias Fresard—a fourth-year Ph.D. student in education policy and leadership at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and… Read MoreFeb 17, 2025
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Can a board game’s layout teach children essential math skills?
By Jenna Somers Many young children struggle in math due to difficulty in understanding place value and calculating with two-digit numbers. But would the burden of learning these foundational concepts ease if they were introduced to children through the fun of playing a board game? A multi-institutional research team, including… Read MoreFeb 17, 2025
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Q&A with Vanderbilt professor Lisa Fazio on misinformation about science
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s report “Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science” In December, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released the consensus study report, “Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science.” The report documents two years of research by a multi-disciplinary expert committee to “characterize… Read MoreFeb 17, 2025
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Vanderbilt alumnus Aneesh Sohoni named CEO of Teach for America
Aneesh Sohoni Aneesh Sohoni, MPP’13, will become chief executive officer of Teach for America beginning April 15. Sohoni has held several education leadership positions of increasing responsibility since earning his master of public policy in education policy at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. Read MoreFeb 14, 2025
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Nashville student named finalist in prestigious national scientific competition
A Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools student from the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt’s senior class, also a student at Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School, has been named as Tennessee’s only top 40 finalist in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search. This national competition recognizes… Read MoreFeb 4, 2025
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Reducing the risk of “forever chemicals” in Tennessee’s drinking water
By Jenna Somers A transdisciplinary team at Vanderbilt University seeks to identify Tennessee communities at risk of exposure to toxic man-made chemicals in their drinking water. Yolanda J. McDonald In response to a 2024 regulation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Tennessee Department of Environment… Read MoreJan 29, 2025
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To improve school climate and discipline, teacher diversity and experience matter
Two recent studies by researchers at Vanderbilt University and New York University offer valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers and researchers seeking to address persistent racial inequities in school discipline. The studies examined teacher and student perceptions of... Read MoreJan 29, 2025
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Goldring elected member of the National Academy of Education
Ellen Goldring Ellen Goldring has been elected a member of the National Academy of Education. She is vice dean of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor, and professor of educational leadership and policy. Goldring’s research focuses on the intersection of… Read MoreJan 24, 2025