Victoria Carr , EdD

Victoria Carr, Ed.D., is a Professor of Early Childhood Education / Developmental and Learning Sciences in the School of Education and an affiliate faculty member in the UC School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Cincinnati. She is the Executive Director of the Arlitt Center for Education, Research, and Sustainability where the child development program will be proudly celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. She has served in leadership roles for the Arlitt Center since 1995.

Dr. Carr is co-editor-in-chief for Children, Youth and Environments, a journal that publishes research articles and reports from the field on environments where children and youth live, learn, work, and play. She serves on the editorial review board for the Journal of Research in Childhood Education and is an active member of the Transnational Dialogues on Early Childhood Education for Sustainability (ECEfS).

Dr. Carr co-chairs the Leave No Child Inside Collaborative of Cincinnati, co-founded the Cincinnati Nature Playscape Initiative, and implemented the Arlitt Professional Educator Learning Series. She served for several years on Cincinnati Nature Center's Board of Directors and continues to consult with its programming and applied learning committee. She has served as the faculty advisor for the UC Equestrian Team since 2006. 

Dr. Carr conducts research and publishes books and articles on ECEfS, children and nature, teacher efficacy, and challenging behaviors in early childhood settings. She has generated over $27M in funding related to programming and research in early childhood education during her UC career. The National Science Foundation supported her research on informal science learning in playscapes (2011-2019) and she has had multiple projects funded by the PNC Foundation. She assists with landscape design, provides consultation about programming, and conducts research on nature-focused playgrounds, including Cincinnati Nature Center Playscape (2011), Arlitt Playscape (2012), a community-built school playground in Papua New Guinea (2015), and several Head Start and child care centers' playscapes (2016-present).


 

EdD: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, 2001 (Special Education / Early Childhood)

MEd: Nova University Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1987 (Gifted Education)

BS: University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, 1980 (Elementary Education / Special Education)

Grant: #CACFP 2019-2020 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 10-01-2020 -09-30-2021 Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Food Program 2019-2020 Role:PI $50,000.00 Active

Grant: #20-27 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2020 -05-31-2021 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 2020-2021 Role:PI $632,112.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #151619 2016 -2019 NSF STEM in the Playscape: Building Knowledge for Educational Practice Role:Principal Investigator $1,635,115 Completed Type:Grant Level:National

Investigators:Victoria Carr & Vikas Mehta 2020 -2021 UC URC Leave No Child Inside Ambassador Field Kits: Community Engagement for a Sustainable and Playful Green Community Role:Co-PI $20,000 Active Type:Grant Level:University

2011 -2014 NSF PlayScapes: Designed Nature Environments to Promote Informal Science Learning Role:Principal Investigator $330,124 Completed Type:Grant Level:National

Investigators:Victoria Carr and Bill Hopple 2011 -2011 P&G Playscape Elements and Design Role:Co-PI $100,000 Completed Type:Grant Level:Local

Investigators:Connie O'Connor 2009 -2011 PNC Grow Up Great with Science Inquiry and Inspiration: It's Natural for Teachers and Preschoolers Role:Grant author and evaluator $249,606 Completed Type:Grant Level:National

Investigators:Bill Hopple and Victoria Carr 2009 -2011 Harriett Downey Fund Playscapes: A Community Vision Role:Co-PI $150,000 Completed Type:Grant Level:Local

Investigators:Victoria Carr, Mary Boat, David Barnett 2002 -2007 Administration for Children and Families ACT 2: Active Curriculum Training – Accelerated Child Trajectories Role:Co-PI $820,000 Completed Type:Grant Level:National

Investigators:Victoria Carr 2004 -2007 PNC Grow Up Great Really Ready to Learn Role:Principal Investigator $134,950 Completed Type:Grant Level:National

Investigators:Victoria Carr 2004 -2007 ODE Building Quality: Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability Role:Principal Investigator $760,000 Completed Type:Grant Level:State

Investigators:Victoria Carr 2005 -2007 Greater Cincinnati Foundation Psychoanalytic Consultation to Schools: Strengthening Kindergarten Readiness Skills Role:Principal Investigator $90,000 Completed Type:Grant Level:Local

Investigators:Kym Simoncini, Victoria Carr, Sue Elliott 2015 -2015 University of Camberra, AU Playground Development in Papua New Guinea Role:Co-investigator $10,000 Completed Type:Grant Level:International

Investigators:Leslie Kochanowski 2018 -2019 PNC Foundation Arlitt Children's Studio Role:Co-investigator $50,000 Completed Type:Grant Level:Local

Grant: #16-23 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2016 -05-31-2017 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 2016-2017 Role:PI $576,359.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #Step Up To Quality 2016-2017 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 05-24-2016 -09-15-2016 Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Step Up To Quality 2016-2017 Role:PI $7,300.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #2016-2017 CACFP Pending Investigators:Carr, Victoria 10-01-2016 -09-30-2017 Department of Agriculture Child & Adult Care Food Program 2016-2017 Role:PI $45,000.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #17-23/05CH8470-04 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2017 -05-31-2018 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 17-18 Role:PI $603,203.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #2017-18 Food Program Investigators:Carr, Victoria 10-01-2017 -09-30-2018 Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Food Program 2017-2018 Role:PI $50,000.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #18-23 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2018 -05-31-2019 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 2018-2019 Role:PI $620,649.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #2018-2019 CACFP Investigators:Carr, Victoria 10-01-2018 -09-30-2019 Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Food Program 2018-2019 Role:PI $50,000.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #19-12 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2019 -05-31-2020 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 2019-2020 Role:PI $602,561.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #CACFP 2020-2021 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 10-01-2020 -09-30-2021 Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program 2020 - 2021 Role:PI $50,000.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #Child Care 2020-2025 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 07-01-2020 -06-30-2025 Department of Health and Human Services ODJFS/DHHS Day Care Role:PI 69584.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #21-22 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2021 -05-31-2022 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 2021 - 2022 Role:PI 632112.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #21 COVID-19 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2021 -05-31-2022 Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency CHCCAA COVID 19 FUNDING 2021 Role:PI 63688.15 Hold Level:Non Profit

Grant: #22-23 Investigators:Carr, Victoria 06-01-2022 -05-31-2023 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 2022-2023 Role:PI 639824.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #CHCCAA 2023-2024 06-01-2023 -05-31-2024 Administration for Children and Families CHCCAA Head Start 23-24 Role:PI 657534.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #CHCCAA 2023-2024 06-01-2023 -05-31-2024 Administration for Children and Families CHCCAA Head Start 23-24 Role:PI 657534.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #2024-2025 HS EHS 06-01-2024 -05-31-2025 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 24-25 Role:PI 711337.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #2024-2025 HS EHS 06-01-2024 -05-31-2025 Department of Health and Human Services CHCCAA Head Start 24-25 Role:PI 711337.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #MOU 01-01-2025 -08-31-2028 Greenacres Foundation, Inc. Experiential Learning as the Catalyst: Measuring the Impact of a Greenacres Environmental Education Program on 2nd Graders Science Learning and Sustainable Values Role:PI 180000.00 Hold Level:Non Profit

Grant: #MOU 01-01-2025 -08-31-2028 Greenacres Foundation, Inc. Experiential Learning as the Catalyst: Measuring the Impact of a Greenacres Environmental Education Program on 2nd Graders Science Learning and Sustainable Values Role:PI 180000.00 Hold Level:Non Profit

Peer Reviewed Publications

Konerman, R., Elliott, S., Pugh, R., Luthy, T., & Carr, V. (2021. ) Children’s agency and action in nature preschool: A tale of two programs .Children, Youth, & Environments, , 21 (2 ) ,139

Kloos, H., Waltzer, T., Maltbie, C., Brown, R., & Carr, V. (2018. ) Inconsistencies in early science education: Can nature help streamline state standards? .Ecopsychology, , 10 (4 ) ,243

Schlembach, S., Kochanowski, L., Brown, R., & Carr, V. (2018. ) Early childhood educators’ perceptions of play and inquiry on nature playscapes .Children, Youth & Environments, , 28 (2 ) ,82

Simoncini, K., Elliott, S., Carr, V., Manson, E., & Simenon, L. (2018. ) Children’s right to play in Papua New Guinea: Insights from children in years 3-8 .International Journal of Play, ,

Carr, V. & Boat, M.B. (2018. ) You say praise, I say encouragement: Negotiating positive behavior support in a constructivist preschool .Athens Journal of Education, , X (Y ) ,1

Kloos, H., Brown, R., Maltbie, C, & Carr, V. (2018. ) Listening in: Spontaneous teacher talk on playscapes .Creative Education - Special Issue on Environmental Education , , 9 ,426

Carr, V., Brown, R., Schlembach, S., & Kochanowski, L. (2017. ) Nature by design: Playscape affordances support the use of executive function in preschoolers .Children, Youth & Environments - Special Issue Jean Piaget Society, , 27 (2 ) ,

Simoncini, K., Carr, V., Elliott, S. Manson, E., Simeon, L., & Sawi, J. (2016. ) Playground development in Papua New Guinea: Creating new play, learning and research environments .Children, Youth & Environments, , 26 (1 ) ,

Carr, V., Kochanowski, L., & Konerman, R. (2015. ) Playscapes: A photo essay .Journal of Playwork Practice, , 2 (1 ) ,

Yuan, Y., Zeng, W., Kloos, H., Brown, R., & Carr, V. (2024. ) Preschoolers' engineering play on playscapes .Early Childhood Education Journal, , 52 (6 ) ,

Carr, V. & Underwood, C. (2024. ) Nature play: Early childhood and beyond. International Play Association USA, ,

Wight, A., Kloos, H., Maltbie, C., & Carr, V. (2015. ) Can playscapes promote early science learning? An exploratory study .Environmental Education Research, , 22 (4 ) ,518

Donovan, L., McCoy, D., Denune, H., Barnett, D., Graden, J., & Carr, V. (2014. ) Preparing doctoral-level consultants for systems change: Implementing and supervising multi-tiered practices in early childhood education .Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, , 25 (2-3 ) ,252

Kochanowski, L. & Carr, V. (2014. ) Nature playscapes as contexts for fostering self-determination .Children, Youth & Environments, , 24 (2 ) ,146

Carr, V. & Luken, E. (2014. ) Playscapes: A pedagogical paradigm for play and learning .The International Journal of Play, , 3 (1 ) ,69

Luken, E., Carr, V., & Brown, R. (2011. ) Playscapes: Designs for play, exploration, and science inquiry .Children, Youth & Environments, , 21 (2 ) ,325

Plevyak, L. & Carr, V. (2011. ) Science and young children: Integrating investigation into everyday experiences .Every Child, , 17 (3 ) ,32

Moomaw, S., Carr, V., Boat, M., & Barnett, D. (2009. ) Preschoolers' number sense .Teaching Children Mathematics, , 16 (3 ) ,332

Boat, M.B., Carr, V.W., Barnett, D., Macmann, G., Moomaw, S., Pan, W., & Nichols, A. (2009. ) Instructional change in preschool classrooms: A study of empirically-based teacher support .NHSA Dialog, , 12 (4 ) ,307

Boat, M.B., Carr, V.W., Barnett, D., Macmann, G., Moomaw, S., Pan, W., & Nichols, A. (2009. ) Improving instruction in Head Start preschool classrooms through feedback and support to teachers .NHSA Dialog, , 12 (4 ) ,347

Carr, V.W., Johnson, L.J., & Corkwell, C. (2009. ) Principle-centered leadership in early childhood education .Dimensions of Early Childhood, , 37 (3 ) ,25

LaMontagne, M.J., Johnson, L.J., Kilgo, J.L., Stayton, V., Carr, V.W., Bauer, A.M., & Carpenter, J. (2002. ) Univied early childhood personnel preparation programs: Perceptions from the field .Teacher Education and Special Education, , 25 (3 ) ,236

Carr, V. (1996. ) Arena assessment: A collaborative approach .Hearsay, , 10 ,59

Invited Publications

Carr, V., Elliott, S., & Ärlemalm-Hagsér, E. (2021. ) Rethinking play in nature: Embracing early childhood education for sustainability .International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 9 (1 ) ,5

Published Books

Carr, V., Luken, E., Konerman, R., & Swiger, J. (2012. ) Engaging your child in nature play .Cincinnati , Cincinnati Nature Center

Denno, D.M., Carr, V.W., & Bell, S.H. (2010. ) Addressing challenging behavior in early childhood settings: A teacher's guide .Baltimore , Paul H. Brookes

Bell, S.H., Carr, V.W., Denno, D.M., Johnson, L.J., & Phillips, L. (2004. ) Challenging behaviors in early childhood settings: Creating a place for all children .Baltimore , Paul H. Brookes

Book Chapter

Kochanowski, L., Carr, V., & Rossmiller, A. Reframing “Quality” through the lens of ECEfS: Promising practices in the United States. Envisioning sustainable futures with young children: International case studies in ECEfS .Springer

Carr, V., Harwood, D., Bascopé, M., & Bernier, A. (2024 ) ECEfS opportunities in the Americas: Engaging with sustainability in early childhood teacher education Children and environment: Early learning for sustainability (3rd Ed.) .Cambridge University Press

Gusler, S., Carr, V., & Johnson, H. (2021 ) Transacting with texts: Pre-readers utilizing executive functioning as problem-solvers, interpreters, and analysts. Poverty impacts on literacy education .IGI Global

Carr, V. & Plevyak, L. (2020 ) Perspectives on early childhood education for sustainability from the USA: Baby steps toward a sustainable world view International perspectives on early childhood education for sustainability: Challenging assumptions and orthodoxies. .Routledge

Carr, V., Simoncini, K., & Manson, E. (2018 ) Early childhood education in Papua New Guinea Handbook of international perspectives on early childhood education .Routledge

Elliott, S., Simoncini, K., Carr, V., & Manson, E. (2017 ) Creating a school playground in PNG: A participatory approach with young children Outdoor learning environments: Spaces for exploration, discovery and risk-taking .Allen & Unwin

Elliott, S., Carr, V., Ärlemalm-Hagsér, E., & Park, E (2017 ) Examining curriculum policy and pedagogy across borders: Re-imagining socially transformative learning in early childhood education Envisioning futures for environmental and sustainability education .Wageningen Academic Publishers

Carr, V. & Luken, E. (2015 ) Destination playscapes: The importance of nature play in early childhood settings Children’s play: Research, reflections & Possibilities .Linus Learning

Wright, M., Konerman, R., Kochanowski, L, & Carr, V. (2024 ) Socioeconomic diversity in laboratory preschools: Imperatives for democracy and sustainability. The how and why of laboratory schools: Innovations and success stories in teacher preparation and student learning .International Lab School Association (Co-Author)

Creative Translation

Carr, V. (Principal Investigator) (2020). STEM in the playscape professional learning series [Video] Arlitt Center for Education, Research, & Sustainability

Early Childhood Education, Head Start, Nature-based Early Learning, Playscapes, Preschool STEM, Play Environments, Education for Sustainability, Teacher Education

Phone: 513-556-3805
victoria.carr@uc.edu