LAPS Female Student Internship Teaching Class

Joanne Szamreta

Dr. Szamreta believes in student writing, not test-taking, as a way of integrating and consolidating learning. She also believes in lots of hands-on projects for assignments, especially in education courses.

Faculty Joanne Szamreta Joanne Szamreta
Professional Title:  Professor of Education
Areas of Academic Focus and Expertise:  
Early childhood education; developmental psychology
Area of Work and Concentration at Lesley:  
Reggio Emilia approach; play as a strategy for learning; early childhood ed; early intervention, birth to age 3; issues in infant development
Representative List of Recent Courses Taught:  
Critical Issues in Infancy; Early Childhood Ed; Lifespan Psychology; Early Intervention Seminar; ECE Student Teaching Seminar & Supervision
Education:  BA, Smith College; MEd, Erikson Institute; PhD, Boston College
Representative List of Recent Publications / Exhibitions:  

  • Young Children: ‘The Power of Peek-a-boo’; presentation at National Association of Young Children Professional Development Institute: Reggio Emilia-inspired schools: A Professional Development Learning Community

Fun Facts:  
Dr. Szamreta takes classes in working with molten glass! She also enjoys running and yoga.

Joanne Szamreta arrived at Lesley University having worked as a preschool and kindergarten teacher, an education supervisor and a program director of 2 different early intervention programs for very young children with special needs and their families. With these experiences as an experiential foundation and more recent experience conducting research, consulting with schools, publishing and presenting at conferences, Dr. Szamreta integrates this knowledge and experience into her education and psychology courses. With a focus on hands-on activities, field visits and discussions as the center pieces of her teaching, Dr. Szamreta facilitates students' creating their own knowledge and integrating important theories with practice.

In addition, Dr. Szamreta works with a variety of different state agencies on public policy issues and initiatives affecting young children and their families as well as higher education programs.