Ashley Norris

Ashley Norris serves as Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science within East Carolina University's College of Health and Human Performance. She holds dual roles as Birth-Kindergarten Instructor and Internship Coordinator, preparing future educators while coordinating field placements. Prior to this position, she worked as an NCPK teacher in rural Eastern North Carolina.

• B.S. in Birth Through Kindergarten Education, East Carolina University
• M.S. in Child Development and Family Relations, East Carolina University

Her research centers on strengthening early childhood education systems through innovative teacher support models and campus-based childcare solutions. Norris investigates how coaching frameworks enhance teacher confidence in inclusive classrooms, develops assessment tools for early childhood health education, and explores sustainable pathways for recruiting early childhood professionals. Her work bridges academic theory with practical classroom applications, particularly in PreK settings and teacher induction programs.

Dr. Norris has secured significant external funding including the $1.2M COMPASS grant (2022-2025) from the U.S. Department of Education and the NC Childcare Stabilization Grant (2021-2023). Her recent publications demonstrate consistent output in teacher education and early childhood systems, with 9 conference presentations in 2024 alone addressing critical challenges in the field.

• ECU Centennial Award for Excellence (2022)
• HDFS Teaching Award (2017)

As Internship Coordinator, Norris advises Birth-Kindergarten education students while leading grant-funded initiatives that create professional development opportunities. Her COMPASS project establishes campus childcare solutions supporting student-parents, and she consults with state teacher support programs on framework development and program evaluation. These efforts connect academic training with real-world educational challenges.

Though not leading a named laboratory, Norris builds research teams around specific grants like COMPASS and collaborates with James Madison University on early childhood coaching initiatives. Her work with the NC New Teacher Support Program and Virginia's educator support systems demonstrates her commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure through practical, partnership-driven solutions.