Senior Co-Directors received the first NASLEE Legacy of Excellence Award

Two pioneers in early childhood education research were awarded the inaugural Legacy of Excellence Award last night by the National Association of State Leaders in Early Education (NASLEE). 

NASLEE, which provides tools and connections for state early care and education specialists, presented the new award to W. Steven (Steve) Barnett, Ph.D., founder and senior co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), and Ellen Frede, Ph.D., senior co-director of NIEER, for their outstanding contributions to NASLEE and the field of early childhood education at large. The prestigious new NASLEE Legacy of Excellence Award will be presented only once every ten years to those who have left an indelible mark on the field.  

“Ellen and Steve have contributed immensely to our field through leadership, mentorship and individual investment,” said NASLEE President Robin Wilkins. “Collectively, their work at NIEER has been integral to advancing early childhood research and informing early childhood policy. Steve continues to provide critical analysis on both a global and national scale, making him a much-sought after and respected researcher. Ellen's leadership both in New Jersey and across the country in establishing research-informed programs and real-world applications makes her experience invaluable.”

Dr. Barnett, Senior Co-Director of NIEER, is also a Board of Governors Professor at Rutgers University. His research primarily focuses on public policies regarding early childhood education, child care, and child development. Dr. Barnett has authored or co-authored more than 300 publications. Some of his best-known works include research on long-term effects of public preschool programs; benefit-cost analyses including the landmark Perry Preschool and Abecedarian studies; and NIEER’s annual State of Preschool yearbooks that provide state-by-state analyses of public preschool enrollment, quality, and investment.

In roles as NIEER Senior Co-Director and Research Professor at Rutgers University, Dr. Frede applies what she has learned throughout her varied career in early childhood education. Much of her work has supported bilingual children and inclusion of children with disabilities. She has served as a teacher of children ages birth through age eight; curriculum and professional development specialist at the HighScope Foundation; teacher educator at The College of New Jersey; researcher; pre-k administrator for the New Jersey Department of Education; education lead at a large Head Start organization; and early learning lead at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Frede has edited and written a wide range of books and chapters for research and practice, as well as peer-reviewed journal articles. As a co-developer of child and classroom assessment tools, curriculum, and teacher professional development systems, she views early childhood systems from the lenses of research, evaluation, staff development, and teaching and learning. 

NASLEE presented Barnett and Frede with the new award at an October 8 dinner during its annual national conference, the 2024 NASLEE Roundtable.