Frances Spielhagen

Bio

Frances R. Spielhagen, PhD, is currently Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Center for Adolescent Research and Development (CARD) at Mount Saint Mary College. Professor Spielhagen teaches courses in curriculum planning, assessment, differentiation, adolescent psychology, and collaboration.

As co-director of CARD, she facilitates research and evaluation projects, mentors junior scholars, and organizes an annual conference on Adolescence in the 21st Century.

Before entering the academy in 2002, she served for 30 years as a public school teacher in grades 7-12 (Latin, Social Studies, English) and as coordinator of talent development (gifted) programs. In the last two years, she has joyfully returned to her roots as a Latin teacher by creating a new curriculum in Latin for young students.

From 2003-2006, she was an American Educational Research Association/Institute for Educational Sciences Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. There, she explored advanced opportunities in mathematics among under-represented populations, under the mentorship of Dr. Joyce Van Tassel-Baska. From 2012-2013, Dr. Spielhagen was a Visiting Scholar at the College of William and Mary, pursuing longitudinal research on the effects of problem-based learning on civic development in young adults.

Professor Spielhagen has published several books and book chapters on her varied and eclectic research agenda of longstanding research interests that include home schooling, under-representation of minority youth in advanced programs, gender equity, single-sex education, and motivation and engagement among adolescents. She has annually presented peer-reviewed papers on her research, both at AERA and in other national and international venues, including the meeting of the European Council for High Achievement, in Muenster, Germany, in September 2012.

Her publications include peer reviewed articles in the Journal for Advanced Academics, the Middle Grades Research Journal, Research in Middle Level Education, and American Secondary Education, several book chapters, and several books.

Dr. Spielhagen has also been involved in service to national organizations. She has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Middle Grades Research Journal (2011-2015) and was selected for membership on the Research and Evaluation Awards Committee of the National Association for Gifted Children. From 2010-2014, she served as a mentor on the AERA Undergraduate Research Program under the direction of George Wimberly. From 2009-2011, she was Chair of the Education Committee of the National Association for Gifted Children. From 2007-2009, she was president of the Sociology of Education Association.

Degrees
Doctor of Philosophy, Fordham University
Master of Arts, Fordham University
Bachelor of Arts, Fordham University

Specialization/Areas of Research Interest
Curriculum Development: Latin and Social Studies
Adolescent Development
Equity in access to advanced opportunities
Home schooling
Single Sex Education
Education of high achieving students

Memberships and Professional Associations
Editor: Middle Grades Research Journal
Members: American Educational Research Association; American Classical League; National Association for Gifted Children; Association for Middle Level Education; National Council for Social Studies; Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Gamma.

Achievements / Awards
AERA Postdoctoral Research Fellow: 2003-2006 

Recent Publications

• Spielhagen, F. & Schwartz, P., Eds. (2014, in press). Adolescence in the 21st Century: Constants and Challenges. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Press.
• Spielhagen, F. (2013). Debating Single Sex Education: Separate and equal? 2nd Edition. Latham, MD: Rowman and Littlefeld
• Spielhagen, F. (2013). Disrupting Inequity: How policy change can foster STEM equity. In Improving Urban Schools: Equity and access in K-16 STEM education for ALL students. R. Capraro & M. Capraro, Ed's. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Press.
• Spielhagen, F., Brown, E., & Hughes, C. (2014, in press). Outliers: Political forces in gifted and special educate. In Politics and Policy in k-12 Education. New York: Routledge.
• Spielhagen, F. (2013). Debating Single Sex Education: Separate and equal? 2nd Edition. Latham, MD: Rowman and Littlefeld.
• Spielhagen, F. (2013). Disrupting Inequity: How policy change can foster STEM equity. In Improving Urban Schools: Equity and access in K-16 STEM education for ALL students. R. Capraro & M. Capraro, Ed's. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Press.
• Spielhagen, F. (2011). The Algebra solution to mathematics reform: Completing the equation. New York: Teachers College Press.

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