Jessica Kilday, PhD
Research Associate
University of Virginia
Welcome! I earned my PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan in 2023. I have worked closely with educators and school leaders through research-practice partnerships and field-based interventions. My background includes basic and applied research, program evaluation, and teaching.
Currently, I am a research associate in the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning at the University of Virginia. My role focuses on understanding the implementation and outcomes of the Active Playful Learning program. I also maintain an affiliation with the Prosocial Development and Education Research Lab at the University of Missouri.
My research addresses two related national needs in education: helping students feel socially connected and supported at school1 — both by teachers and peers — and giving educators the tools and support they need to build positive learning environments for youth.
As a former middle school teacher, I experienced first-hand how everyday social interactions play a powerful role in how students feel about themselves, their learning, and school. In recent years, teacher burnout has surged2, student behavior concerns are rising3, and nearly half of educators say it’s a struggle to keep students interested in learning4. These conditions can strain social relationships at school.
My research aims to strengthen school-based social support systems by understanding how relationships and classroom environments influence student outcomes. I am especially interested in middle school and other transitional periods, when students face new challenges that can have lasting effects on their development.
On this website, you can find more information about me, including research, teaching, and areas of expertise.
1 Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. U.S. Public Health Service. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf.
2 Steiner, E. D., Doan, S., Woo, A., Gittens, A.D., Lawrence, R.A., Berdie, L., Wolfe, R.L., Greer, L., and Schwartz, H.L. (2023). Restoring teacher and principal well-being is an essential step for rebuilding schools: Findings from the State of the American Teacher and State of the American Principal surveys. RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1108-4.html.
3 Prothero, A., & Solis, V. (2024, November 26). The top 10 things that keep teachers up at night. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/the-top-10-things-that-keep-teachers-up-at-night/2024/11
4 Pew Research Center (2024, April). What’s it like to be a teacher in America today? https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/ST_24.04.04_teacher-survey_report.pdf
