Kara Jackson

Kara Jackson is a Professor in the Elementary Teacher Education Program at the University of Washington College of Education. Her work focuses on mathematics education research and teacher education, with an emphasis on creating conditions where youth and teachers flourish in mathematics classrooms. She studies secondary teaching practices that enable students to engage with mathematics in intellectually expansive, generative, and personally meaningful ways.

Dr. Jackson's research is grounded in long-term partnerships with educators including teachers, coaches, and system leaders. Her work has been supported by prestigious organizations including the National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Spencer Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Research Interests

Dr. Jackson's research spans several interconnected areas in mathematics education:

• Equity-focused mathematics teaching practices that support all students' meaningful participation
• Conditions that enable teachers to develop rich, powerful forms of mathematics instruction
• How schools and districts can be organized to support teachers' professional growth
• Qualitative research methods in educational settings
• Connections between classroom practice and broader educational systems

Recent Publications

Dr. Jackson's recent work (2020-2025) demonstrates a consistent focus on practical measures for instructional improvement in mathematics education. Her research examines how teachers interpret student perceptions, develop classroom discussion practices, and implement complex mathematical tasks. A significant thread throughout her work is the development of tools and approaches that bridge research and practice, particularly through the 'Practical Measures, Routines, and Representations (PMRR)' project which provides publicly available resources for educators.

Scientific Recognition

• National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Research funding from the Spencer Foundation
• Grants from the National Science Foundation
• Support from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

Professional Contributions

Dr. Jackson has made significant contributions to educational research through her co-authored book 'Systems for instructional improvement: Creating coherence from the classroom to the district office' (2018) and her edited volume 'Numeracy as social practice: Global and local perspectives' (2018). Her current projects include 'Practical Measures, Routines, and Representations (PMRR)' which provides tools for educators to investigate and revise instructional improvement strategies in mathematics, and 'Middle School Mathematics and the Institutional Setting of Teaching' which examines district and school systems that affect mathematics teachers' development.