Megan Cox, Ph.D. is a research associate and the coordinator for the Assessment Training Center which provides expertise in observational assessments pertaining to environmental and interactional quality of early care and education settings around Minnesota.  The Center is involved in multiple initiatives and partnerships with state agencies in the pilot of the Parent Aware Quality Rating System.  Notably, the Center trains coaches and consultants on the Environmental Rating Scales (ITERS, ECERS, FCCERS) as well as the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and conducts observational visits to programs participating in School Readiness Connections and the Parent Aware Pilot. 

Before coming to CEED, Dr. Cox was research director for the Human Development Institute Early Childhood Division at the University of Kentucky where she was engaged in research to identify empirically and socially based transition practices for children with disabilities (NECTC), professional development research for ECE workers (PDFRC) and developing early childhood data systems for federal outcomes reporting (KEDS).

Dr. Cox’s research interests include mental health, burnout and job satisfaction in the ECE workforce, as well as ECE professional development initiatives, measurement validity of authentic assessment  and early education policy.

Selected Presentations

1. Cox, M., Hollingsworth, H., & Buysse, V. (2012, May). Exploring the professional development landscape: Summary from four states. Presented at the 2012 National Smart Start Conference, Joseph S. Koury Center, Greensboro, NC.

2. Cox, M., & Nelson, E. (2012, April 13). Lights, Camera, Action! Videos + Standards = Effective Teacher Practice. Presented at the 2012 MNAFEE Family and Early Childhood Education Annual Conference. St. Cloud Civic Center, St. Cloud, MN.

3. Neilsen Gatti, S., Watson, C., & Cox, M. (2012, February). Reflective consultation as an ongoing, embedded professional development model.  Poster presenter at the Conference on Research Innovations in Early Childhood. San Diego, CA.

4. Cox, M., & Watson, C. (2011, November 18). Poster presentation: Regional, Specialized, Professional Development Systems: Using Data to Expand Resources. Presented at the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) 27th Annual International Conference on Young Children With Special Needs & Their Families. National Harbor, MD.

5. Cox, M., Watson, C., Kipnis, F. & Wat, A. (2011, June 13). Promoting Comprehensive data systems: National and state models for integrated workforce development. Presentation at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional Development Institute, Providence, RI.

6. Cox, M. (2011, June 3). Coaching within Context. Presentation at the Minnesota Head Start Association Summer Institute, St. Joseph, MN.

7. Cox, M. & Gershone, K. (2011, April 14).  Strategies for success: How environmental Rating Scales can be used to measure progress. Presented to the Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education.  St. Cloud, MN.

8. Cox, M. (2010, November 11).  Closing remarks and next steps in developing state capacity for the CLASS.  Presented during first Minnesota CLASS conference. St. Paul, MN. 

9. Cox, M. (Fall 2010). Use of Data in Early Childhood Settings. Presented at the National Council of Educational Research and Training, India.

10. Taylor Bruckner, C., Cox, M., McLean, M., & Snyder, P. (2010, February 25-27). Using Authentic Assessments for Statewide Accountability: Issues Related to Reliability and Validity. Panel presentation at Conference on Research Innovations in Early Intervention (CRIEI), San Diego, CA.

11. Cox, M., McCormick, K., & Rouse, B. (2010, February 25-27). Borrowing from Peter to Score Paul: Issues in Measurement, Score, Reliability and Replication. Poster presentation at Conference on Research Innovations in Early Intervention (CRIEI), San Diego, CA.

12. Cox, M., Harrison, M., & Neilsen Gatti, S. (2012, February). Foundations for understanding a widely used practice: Elements that define reflective supervision. Poster presenter at the Conference on Research Innovations in Early Childhood. San Diego, CA.