Dr. Carol A. Pistorino
About Dr. Carol A. Pistorino
Title: Vice President and Director of Quality Assurance
Dr. Carol A. Pistorino holds the position of Vice President and Director of Quality Assurance. In this role, she oversees the quality and performance of various programs and projects, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of accuracy and effectiveness. Her responsibilities include managing staff, coordinating complex project components, and implementing quality control measures across a diverse range of initiatives.
Education and Expertise: Applied Developmental Psychology
Dr. Pistorino earned her master's degree and Ph.D. in applied developmental psychology from the University of Miami. Her advanced education equips her with the expertise needed to design and evaluate programs aimed at enhancing youth development and education. This strong academic foundation supports her professional work, particularly in the areas of education, teen pregnancy prevention, and youth services.
Professional Background: Program Reviews and Evaluations
Dr. Pistorino has extensive experience in conducting program reviews and evaluations, particularly those focusing on education and youth services. She has served as principal investigator, project director, and senior researcher on numerous projects. Her work encompasses the full project lifecycle, including study design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. She has directed evaluations for the U.S. Department of Education and provided analytic and technical support to Regional Educational Laboratories.
Analytic and Technical Support: Regional Educational Laboratories
Dr. Pistorino has provided analytic and technical support to Regional Educational Laboratories, assisting them in designing and conducting randomized trials of educational interventions. Her role involves ensuring that these trials are methodologically sound and that the data collected is accurate and reliable. This support has been crucial in assessing the effectiveness of various education programs.
Project Management: National Studies and Large-Scale Evaluations
Throughout her career, Dr. Pistorino has managed and led numerous large-scale studies and evaluations. Notably, she directed DIR's recruitment of schools and conducted classroom observations for a study on early childhood language development in Title I schools. Additionally, she led the design work for a national study of middle grades students and managed a study of three teen pregnancy prevention models across 75 schools and health clinics nationwide.
Certified Research Reviewer: What Works Clearinghouse
Dr. Pistorino is a certified research reviewer for the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) at the U.S. Department of Education. In this capacity, she evaluates the quality and rigor of educational research studies to determine which programs and practices have demonstrated effectiveness. Her role ensures that educators and policymakers have access to reliable, evidence-based information.