 | MESPA Home > Professional Development > MESPA Institute > Institute 2013: Learning for All > Ruby Takanishi, Keynote | | | Ruby Takanishi, Keynote | | Leadership in Early Childhood Education
"Principals play a crucial role in transforming our primary education system. No meaningful change can occur without elementary school principals."
--Ruby Takanishi, President
Foundation for Child Development
Ruby Takanishi is former president of The Foundation for Child Development (FCD) -- the oldest private,
independent, grantmaking foundation in the nation with a sustained focus
on improving the life prospects of children. Over the course of its
100-plus-year history, FCD has contributed to the field of child
development by supporting research, policy formation, programs, and
advocacy. Under Takanishi's leadership, the foundation developed its PreK-3rd initiative, the Young Scholars Program, and the Child Well-Being Index, America’s report card on how children are faring.
Takanishi’s long-term interest is how research on children’s development can inform public policy and programs. She studied psychology at Stanford University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and earned her master’s degree from the University of Michigan and Ph.D. from Stanford. She was the founding executive director of the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological and Cognitive Sciences; and director of the Office of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association. Later, Takanishi was executive director of the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development (1986-1996), and assistant director for behavioral and social sciences and education in the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.
She has been widely recognized for her work. In 1998, she received the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy Award from the American Psychological Association, and in 2004 her colleagues honored her with the Fred Rogers Leadership Award in Philanthropy for Child, Youth and Families. Takanishi also has received the Distinguished Contributions to Public Policy for Children Award from the Society for Research on Child Development.
She currently chairs the Education and Learning National Advisory of The McKnight Foundation, and is a member of the Transatlantic Forum on Inclusive Early Learning. She advises states and districts regarding policies and implementation related to PreK-Grade 3 approaches.
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| Keynote Speaker | Thursday, February 7, 9 a.m.
in the Grand Ballroom
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| Ruby Takanishi |
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| Foundation for Child Development | Since 1899, the Foundation for Child Development (FCD) has supported research, policy development, and advocacy to ensure
that all families have the social and material resources to raise their
children to be healthy, educated, and productive members of society.
Today, FCD builds on its pioneering role in creating
the field of child social indicators through its
Child Well-Being Index (CWI) which
tracks child well-being since 1975. Since 2003, FCD has promoted PreK-3rd,
the seamless continuity of educational experience for children ages
three to eight to provide the first initial essential foundation for
lifelong learning.
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