The George Lucas Educational Foundation Names Executive Director of New Research Division

Kristin De Vivo to spearhead launch of new division to expand Foundation's research initiatives

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF), an operating foundation dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by documenting, disseminating, and advocating innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies, has named Kristin De Vivo to the position of executive director of GLEF Research.

GLEF Research will advance the Foundation's mission by developing and supporting current and new research programs and projects. Partners include universities, lead educators, and educational organizations. The creation of GLEF Research, in addition to the existence of the Foundation's current division, Edutopia, signifies the Foundation's commitment to undertaking scientific research to investigate and evaluate strategies that improve learning and to making these findings accessible and useful to the public.

"Through Edutopia's digital media resources and community, we highlight what works to improve learning. We believe students learn best when programs are rigorous and relevant, such as through project-based learning (PBL). GLEF Research will continue to investigate PBL and other strategies to improve learning, present the results, and show real-world examples of best practices in action," says George Lucas, chairman and founder of the Foundation. "Kristin De Vivo brings a wealth of specific research expertise and experience to the Foundation. She is an important addition to our leadership team at GLEF."

De Vivo joins the Foundation effective October 31. She will also be a member of the Foundation's board of directors.

"I am honored to join the George Lucas Educational Foundation," says De Vivo. "I'm excited by the opportunity to expand the Foundation's work to investigate and evaluate project-based learning, new forms of assessment, and other core strategies that work for students and to share those best practices with the Foundation's growing audience."

De Vivo joins the Foundation from Scholastic's Education Division in New York, where she has spent more than a decade in senior research-related positions, most recently as vice president of research and validation. In this position, she managed the design and implementation of research studies measuring the effectiveness of Scholastic's instructional programs from pre-kindergarten through high school and beyond. De Vivo optimized the effectiveness of Scholastic's programs through continuous evaluation, and the products she worked on received the highest endorsements for effectiveness from the U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse.

Prior to joining Scholastic, De Vivo was head of research at LeapFrog SchoolHouse, where her responsibilities included the development of a formative assessment system and the evaluation of literacy programs designed for early childhood and elementary grades. Prior to her work in software development and research, De Vivo conducted full-scale neuropsychological evaluations of children and adults.

De Vivo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, and completed early graduate work in child neuropsychology and pharmacology at Teachers College, Columbia University.

About The George Lucas Educational Foundation
The George Lucas Educational Foundation is an operating foundation dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process through innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare students to thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives. For more information, please go to edutopia.org.

SOURCE The George Lucas Educational Foundation