David Blazar

David Blazar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL) at the University of Maryland, College Park. He serves as the faculty director of the Maryland Equity Project and holds an Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in History and Literature from Harvard College. Prior to academia, he taught high-school English in New York City.

Education:

• Ed.D., Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Bachelor’s Degree in History and Literature, Harvard College

Research Focus: Blazar’s work centers on the equitable and effective allocation of educational resources, particularly related to teachers and teaching. He investigates educator diversity, policies to diversify the teaching workforce, and the impact of teacher-student racial matching. His research employs rigorous methodologies, including causal inference and partnerships with state agencies.

Grants & Partnerships: Blazar has secured grants from the Institute of Education Sciences, National Science Foundation, and Spencer Foundation. Notable projects include evaluating Maryland’s Grow-Your-Own teacher recruitment program, analyzing teacher evaluation incentives, and studying the effects of STEMM-CTE teacher courseloads.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2021 Excellence in Scholarship (Pre-Tenure), University of Maryland College of Education
• 2017 Jean Flanigan Dissertation Award
• Outstanding Reviewer for multiple journals (2017–2021)

Teaching & Mentorship: Blazar instructs courses on education economics, impact evaluation, and data management. His work integrates policy research with practical applications, emphasizing scalable solutions for educational inequities.