Dr. Donna Carr is a professor and former Chair of the Department of Education at Davis & Elkins College. She worked in public education for many years in West Virginia and in Virginia and as an assistant Superintendent after being a teacher and director of several programs including federal programs and special education programs. Dr. Carr also worked with the federally-funded Department of Education comprehensive centers and an Equity Center and helped to implement federal reform and state policies in a five-state region. She was employed as an assistant director (regional training events) for the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center at Edvantia, then worked with the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore for their graduate program and University of Virginia (UVA) for their School of PK-12 Continuing Education as a project architect for PK-12 division administrative and teacher training programs. PK-12 student assessment during this time, particularly under No Child Left Behind, was driving teacher and administrative training as states and districts/divisions did not want to be placed under federal and state sanctions for low student performance. Dr. Carr and a colleague also worked with low performing divisions and schools as consultants that were funded by grants from the Virginia Department of Education and flow-through federal dollars. This interview explores Dr. Carr's extensive experience with professional development and how PD helps to prepare our preservice teachers.

Nathan Sams