UVA School of Education & Human Development

09/10/2026

What do you think: How could teaching be a more family-friendly career?

With a new grant from the Spencer Foundation, UVA School of Education and Human Development Associate Professor Laura Rogers is leading a research project to explore how having a child impacts teacher retention and career advancement.

The research team will map benefits across 1,300 school districts to examine if family-friendly policies are a key driver in keeping educators in the classroom.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/7hOA50ZMhV5

09/09/2026

How should AI be used in the classroom?

Danielle Waterfield, a research scientist with UVA’s School of Education and Human Development, spoke with NBC29 News about how educators are developing guidelines for AI use and why keeping a “human in the loop” is essential.

"If you're using ChatGPT or CoPilot or Gemini to make a worksheet that you're going to use with your students, you as the teacher are still the person who is looking at that worksheet, reviewing it, making sure it's accurate, and then being able to turn around and use it in your practice," she said.

🔗More from CBS19 News: Charlottesville News First:

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- School is back in session, and both teachers and students are navigating how they use artificial intelligence in the classroom.

09/08/2026

As school gets underway, students are gearing up for their first graded assignments of the year. But how much do grades actually motivate learning?

“Grades are just one aspect of creating a high-quality teaching and learning context that hopefully aims to help students develop key knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to live happy, healthy, and productive lives,” says UVA EHD motivation researcher Chris Hulleman, director of the Motivate Lab.

👉 Read the full Q&A here:

09/04/2026

We see you, Professor Block! Go Hoos! 🧡💙

09/04/2026

How much should you trust AI with your nutrition?

UVA nutrition expert and registered dietitian Sibylle Kranz tested several popular AI-powered diet tracking apps to see how accurately they could analyze food and provide personalized recommendations.

🔗Read more:

As millions of people turn to AI-powered nutrition tools, how much should they trust them? Registered dietitian and UVA researcher Sibylle Kranz explains how the technology can help people better understand and improve their diets.

09/03/2026

Last week, Meta agreed to pay up to $17 billion in a landmark settlement, raising an important question for Virginia: How should those funds be invested?

In a new op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, UVA EHD’s Nancy Deutsch and colleagues make the case for using Virginia’s share to expand access to after-school and summer programs that foster positive youth development, alongside mental health supports.

"As educators, parents and developmental and clinical psychologists, we believe that the best way to use these funds is to invest in programs, activities and interventions known to promote healthy youth development," they wrote. "This includes both out-of-school time programs and mental health supports."

Read the full op-ed:

Virginia’s $353 million share of the Meta settlement offers a once-in-a-generation chance to strengthen youth mental health by expanding after-school programs, increasing access to care, supporting families, and investing in

09/02/2026

Want better math and reading scores? Give kids more recess.

Schools have steadily reduced recess over the past two decades, often to make more room for academic instruction. But research suggests that strategy may be backfiring.

UVA School of Education and Human Development experts explain how breaks, physical activity, and unstructured play can support students’ learning, attention, memory, and social-emotional development.

🔗Read more:

Over the past 20 years, recess has been disappearing from schools across the country — but there's a movement to bring it back. UVA education experts explain why.

09/01/2026

Faculty deserve a warm welcome back, too! 💙🧡

While many of our faculty spend the summer hard at work leading research, teaching courses, and preparing for the year ahead, it was wonderful to officially welcome our faculty to a new academic year at last week’s faculty kick-off.

08/28/2026

That’s better. 💙🧡

08/27/2026

There's no better way to start the year than gathering together!

Faculty, staff, students and families all came out to our annual Welcome Picnic to enjoy the festivities, catch up with friends and colleagues, and welcome new members of the EHD community.

Swipe for a few highlights from an afternoon that reminded us what makes this community so special.