Ellen B. Goldring

Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Educational Policy and Leadership; Department Chair, Leadership, Policy, and Organizations

Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1985

Ellen Goldring is Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair and Professor of Education Policy and Leadership.  She is Chair of the Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations at Peabody College.  She received her Ph. D from the University of Chicago.  Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, Professor Goldring was Chair of the Department of Educational Administration, Tel Aviv University, Israel.  At Vanderbilt she won the Alexander Heard Distinguished Professor award. She is a fellow at the Vanderbilt University Learning Sciences Institute and a researcher with the National Center on School Choice. Professor Goldring's areas of expertise is on improving schools with particular attention to educational leadership, school choice, and parent involvement.
 
In her research on school choice, Professor Goldring addresses questions about access and equity including how parents choose, why parents choose, parent involvement and, leadership in both magnet schools and charter schools.  This work has been funded by the Spencer Foundation, The WT Grant Foundation, and the National Center on School  Choice (www.vanderbilt.edu/schoolchoice/).

Professor Goldring's research on school leadership examines the implementation and effects of professional development, coaching, and performance feedback.  Professor Goldring and her colleagues are developing innovative tools that measure leadership practice and expertise.  She is also co-principal investigator on a study funded by the Institute of Education Sciences to examine the validity of the Vanderbilt Assessment of Leadership in Education (www.valed.com). 

Professor Goldring serves on numerous editorial boards, technical panels, and policy forums.  Her books include Principals of Dynamic Schools, School Choice in Urban America, Successful Schools and the Community Relationship, Leading with Data:  A Path to School Improvement, From the Courtroom to the Classroom, and Leading with Inquiry and Action.   She has designed and implemented a principal leadership academy that is now in its seventh year of partnership with the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.  She has developed a state-wide leadership training initiative for the State of Tennessee as part of the Gates Foundation Leadership Challenge.   She has worked with school systems, universities and governments in the US and internationally, in the United Kingdom, Israel, China, and Hong Kong amongst others.

Learn More about Ellen B. Goldring:

Projects | Courses Taught | Selected Publications
Awards | CV | Media Mentions

Areas of Expertise

Leadership, Policy & Organizations

Related Links

• Center for Evaluation and Program Improvement (CEPI)

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