Pianta Presentation 2009-02-23 10:33:58 2.68 Mb

Robert Pianta is the Dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, as well as the Novartis US Foundation Professor of Education and a Professor in the Department of Psychology.  He serves as Director of the National Center for Research in Early Childhood Education and the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning.  Dr. Pianta’s work focuses on policy and practice that enhance children’s outcomes, school readiness, and later achievement.  His recent work focuses on the assessment of teacher quality, teacher-child interaction, and child improvement, using standardized observational assessment and video feedback.  Dr. Pianta has published more than 350 scholarly papers and is lead author on several influential books related to early childhood and elementary education.  He has recently begun work to extend his work into design and delivery of professional development using web-based formats and interactive video.  Dr. Pianta received a B.S. and a M.A. in Special Education from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and began his career as a special education teacher.