The new Co-Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) says America is ready for a major breakthrough in providing quality preschool. Linda M. Espinosa, a leader in the development of early education programs and policy, joins the Institute as Co-Director of Research and Policy.
Espinosa says, “The country has accepted the need for and sees the benefit in quality preschool. The professionals at NIEER are well equipped to help guide and structure the programs to make quality preschool universal.”
Espinosa’s research and university teaching are grounded in a strong practical background formed in positions such as center director, elementary school principal, and district administrator. She has also written regulations for funding, developing, and monitoring preschool programs for the state of Washington.
With an Ed.M. from Harvard and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Chicago, Espinosa has written for numerous scholarly publications and is consulting editor and book editor for Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
In describing her motivation for working in this field she said: “I’ve worked in a number of inner city and integrated situations, and I’ve seen that the playing field is far from level for many children. I’ve tried over my career to correct that situation, at least for the kids within my range. At NIEER I see the opportunity to make a difference for those kids on a national level.”
Espinosa assists NIEER Director Steven Barnett with managing the overall operation. She will also supervise projects such as those on quality evaluation, curriculum, and the state report card.
Espinosa is also an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University.