Ellen Frede is Senior Co-Director at the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University and Research Professor at the Graduate School of Education.
In her work, Dr. Frede applies what she has learned throughout her varied career in early childhood education, including experience as a teacher of ages 0-8, curriculum and professional development specialist at the HighScope Foundation, teacher educator at The College of New Jersey, researcher, pre-k administrator for the New Jersey Department of Education, education lead in a large Head Start grantee and early learning lead at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
As a co-developer of child and classroom assessment tools and complementary integrated curriculum and professional development systems, Dr. Frede views ECE systems development from multiple lenses: research, utilization focused evaluation, staff development, and teaching and learning. She previously served as NIEER co-director from 2005-2011.
Dr. Frede has edited and written a wide range of books and chapters for research and practice, as well as peer-reviewed journal articles. She holds a doctorate in developmental psychology, a master’s degree in human development and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.