College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University
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Graduate School of Education - George Mason University

Our Graduate School of Education is the alma mater for one third of teachers and administrators in Northern Virginia’s world-class school systems. Each year, more than 3,000 graduate students enroll in our innovative academic programs, which include advanced study for teachers and school leaders, instructional design and technology, and a renowned PhD in Education program that is among the largest in the country.

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School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism - George Mason University

The School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (SRHT) offers exciting, career-ready majors in dynamic fields such as athletic training, tourism and events management, health and physical education, kinesiology, sport management, and recreation management. SRHT features renowned faculty, cutting-edge research, six laboratories and centers, and a diverse student body of more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. Each major requires one or more internship or clinical experiences, ensuring that students graduate not just with a transcript but with a resume that demonstrates their professional aptitude and skills.

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Areas of Study

How will YOU make an impact?

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Our Philosophy

At George Mason University, our aim is not to be the best university in the world, but the best university for the world. We accept our responsibility to serve others, to help our students succeed, to enrich the life of our community, and to contribute to solving some of the most complex problems of our time.

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About CEHD

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) inspires undergraduate and graduate students to promote learning and development across the life span. Innovative, inclusive, and cutting-edge, the college and its two schools prepare professionals who improve lives and make a difference for our community and for the world.

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Students

One of the goals of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is to provide all students with personalized, high-quality experiential learning opportunities, both regionally and globally with multiple pathways and delivery formats that will enable all graduates to pursue meaningful lives and successful careers.

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Research of Consequence
Research

The college’s innovative research and pace of performance has resulted in a research portfolio that has grown dramatically compared to peer institutions, with annual expenditures exceeding $16 million annually. This research of consequence, undertaken by faculty in both schools, advances knowledge in the learning and developmental sciences, benefiting the greater community in Virginia and beyond.

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La Croix, Leslie

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PhD, George Mason University
Assistant Professor
Early Childhood Education

Contact Information

Send email to Dr. La Croix

Phone: (703) 993-5488
Fax: (703) 993-4370
Email: llacroix (@gmu.edu)

George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Thompson Hall 1203
4400 University Dr.
MS 4C2
Fairfax, VA 22030

Profile

Dr. La Croix is an Assistant Professor in the Early Childhood Education Program in College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. Dr. La Croix holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from James Madison University with a Minor in Early Childhood Education. She began her teaching career as a first- and third grade integrated language arts and social studies teacher in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. During that time, she completed a Masters of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction at McDaniel College. Dr. La Croix completed her Doctorate of Philosophy in Education with a specialization in Literacy and a secondary concentration in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education at George Mason University. Prior to joining the faculty at Mason, Dr. La Croix facilitated methods and curriculum courses for McDaniel College, Towson University, and St. Mary’s College. 

Research Interests

Dr. La Croix’s research is focused on examining the instructional practices that support inservice and preservice teachers’ understandings of diverse young learners and their families. Current projects explore

·      Promoting preservice teachers’ understandings of instructional writing practices for young authors, and

·      Examining preservice and inservice teachers’ incorporation of diverse assessment practices for young children from culturally, linguistically, and socio-economically diverse backgrounds 

Recent Publications

La Croix, L., Yun, S., Kidd, J. K., Burns, M. S., & Nasser, I. (in press). Assessing diverse young children. Using the LEARN Framework to Make Intentional Teaching (IT) Work in Early Childhood Classrooms. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.

La Croix, L., Kidd, J. K., Burns, M. S., & Nasser, I. (in press). Linking assessment with curriculum and instruction. Using the LEARN Framework to Make Intentional Teaching (IT) Work in Early Childhood Classrooms. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.

Kidd, J. K., Burns, S. M., La Croix, L., & Cossa, N. (2014). Prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers in high-poverty schools speak about young children’s authoring (and we need to listen). ejournal of Literacy and Social Responsibility, 7.

Parsons, S. A., Malloy, J. A., Vaughn, M., & La Croix, L. (2014). A longitudinal study of literacy teacher visioning: Traditional program graduates and Teach For America corps members. Literacy Research and Instruction, 53, 134-161. doi:10.1080/19388071.2013.868561