Carol Baldassari, Senior Research Associate

Carol Baldassari has worked with PERG since 1993. Her work with PERG has been primarily in the area of Math and Science Systemic Reform initiatives. Currently, she is the lead evaluator on two NSF-funded Local System Change projects focused on reforming elementary science education, an evaluation of the development of a comprehensive assessment program in math and science, an evaluation of the Foxfire's courses for teachers, and a Massachusetts Cultural Council-funded partnership between drama teachers and K-12 teachers. Also at PERG, she has worked with George Hein on a longitudinal evaluation of district teams that attended the National Science Resource Center's Elementary Science Leadership Institutes and, in cooperation with the Math, Science, and Technology Center at Lesley University, on an evaluation of the Exxon Education Foundation's K-3 Math Specialist Program.

Before coming to PERG, Carol worked for a housing planning agency, conducting research on affordable housing and working with communities to develop local housing programs. Carol taught high school English, drama, film, and photography. In addition, she taught integrated math and science, as well as a women's studies program at a progressive middle school. For ten years, Carol served as an educational consultant to schools and special education settings, providing professional and curriculum development and designing environments for children.

Carol holds advanced degrees in education from Lesley and environmental psychology from CUNY. While at CUNY, she conducted an action research project involving children's research about their communities. She has been involved in teaching, designing learning environments, developing participatory action research, and conducting qualitative program evaluations for community development organizations and schools.

When she is not at work, Carol enjoys spending time with her husband and 14-year-old son, gardening, sailing, and painting with watercolors.