Kristen R. Stephens

Kristen R. Stephens is an Associate Professor of the Practice in the Program in Education at Duke University, where she also serves as Director of the Program in Education (since 2022) and an Affiliate in the Sanford School of Public Policy's Center for Child and Family Policy. Her roles include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in gifted education, differentiated instruction, and educational policy. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi (1999) and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1990).

Stephens' research focuses on legal and policy issues in gifted education, particularly equity for underserved populations, and includes studies on teacher preparation, curriculum design, and service-learning integration. She has led multiple grants supported by the National Science Foundation, including projects addressing STEM teacher retention and gifted program efficacy. Her work emphasizes policy implementation challenges and systemic barriers in K-12 education.

Her recent publications explore legal frameworks for gifted student identification, service-learning in gifted curricula, and teacher dispositions affecting program implementation. She frequently engages with public discourse on education policy, including commentary on federal and state legislation affecting public schools.

• Education: Ph.D. (1999) in Education from University of Southern Mississippi; B.A. (1990) in Education from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Key Grants:
  • R2: Mentorships to Strengthen STEM Teachers (NSF, 2020-2026)
  • Gifted Programs Beneficiality Study (DoE, 2019-2025)
• Teaching: Courses include EDUC 409S (Differentiated Instruction), EDUC 620 (Gifted Learner Characteristics), and EDUC 621 (Methods for Teaching Gifted Learners).