Jessica E. Whittaker

Jessica E. Whittaker is a Research Professor in the Department of Education Leadership, Foundations & Policy at the University of Virginia's School of Education and Human Development, where she serves as Director of Birth to Eight Initiatives and a core faculty member at the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL). Her work integrates developmental psychology and educational research to improve early childhood systems through evidence-based policy and practice.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. from the University of Maryland (2008)
• B.A. from Duke University (2000)

Dr. Whittaker's research centers on four interconnected domains: (1) identifying malleable classroom processes that enhance child outcomes, (2) developing interventions to improve teacher-child interactions, (3) investigating links between executive function and early STEM skills, and (4) creating integrated data systems to bridge early childhood research, policy, and practice. She prioritizes collaborative partnerships with state agencies like the Virginia Department of Education to ensure real-world impact.

Analysis of her eight recent publications (2018-2023) reveals consistent emphasis on longitudinal studies of pre-K to kindergarten transitions, classroom interaction quality, and executive function development. Her work demonstrates how aligned educational experiences and targeted teacher support influence school readiness, academic achievement, and social-emotional outcomes, particularly in underserved populations.

Dr. Whittaker has received the following scientific recognition:

• Virginia Education Science Training (VEST) Fellow

She mentors Ph.D. students in Educational Psychology - Applied Developmental Science and integrates master's and undergraduate researchers into her projects. Current grant-funded initiatives include the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program and Fairfax PreK-3rd Grade Project, focusing on scalable interventions for improving teacher effectiveness and system-wide early childhood quality.

As leader of CASTL's Birth to Eight Initiatives, she directs projects like LinkB5, MyTeachingPartner, and STEP (Supporting Teachers to Enhance Math Practice), which develop data-driven tools for educators and policymakers while building sustainable research-practice partnerships across Virginia.