Before coming to UCM, Karrie Snider was the Interim Early Childhood Research Director for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development. She has held a variety of roles in PK-8th grade and higher education including teacher, school administrator, and teacher educator across rural, suburban and urban settings. Her degrees include a BS in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Northwest Missouri State University, and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction and an Interdisciplinary PhD in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership/Education, Policy, Leadership and Foundations from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, each with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. Her research interests include teacher-child interactions and factors that influence teaching and learning. She is researching the implementation of The Project Approach: www.projectapproachkc.org.