Description of Research Expertise

Professional Biography
Frances Rust is a visiting professor and director of Teacher Education at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. During the 2009-2010 academic year, she served as a visiting scholar at the University of Illinois-Chicago. From 2007-2009, she was senior vice president for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Erikson Institute. She is professor emeritus at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education, where she was a professor of education between 1991 and 2007.

Rust has been in early childhood education since 1966. She founded two early childhood schools based on the Montessori Method and the British Infant School movement. Since 1985, she has directed undergraduate and graduate-level teacher education programs at Teachers College of Columbia University, Manhattanville College, Hofstra University, and NYU.

She has published widely on topics related to teacher preparation and teacher quality. As well, she has written on teacher-driven action research and school improvement. Active in numerous professional organizations, she serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, Teacher Education Quarterly, and Teachers and Teaching – Theory and Practice. Frances Rust’s most recent publications include the August 2009 special issue of the Teachers College Record focused on teacher action research, the Summer 2009 issue of Teachers and Teaching – Theory and Practice on supporting elementary education, and a chapter on Early Childhood Education: Curriculum and Programs in 21st Century Education – A Reference Handbook, edited by Thomas Good.