Michelle Reininger

Assistant Professor of Human Development, Social Policy, and Learning Sciences
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
PhD, Economics of Education, Stanford University, 2006
m-reininger@northwestern.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Michelle Reininger’s broad research agenda is aimed at gaining a better understanding of the dynamics of teacher labor markets including preparation, recruitment, and retention. Specifically, Reininger studies the importance of geography in the occupational decision making of teachers as well as the role of community colleges in the supply of teachers in areas with hard-to-staff schools.

Currently, she is involved in two longitudinal studies in the Chicago Public School System (CPS). With the support of the Joyce Foundation, Reininger is working with CPS to develop a new selection and evaluation process for identifying pre-service (student) teachers who show promise for becoming effective teachers in the future. This process will help the district better identify which student teachers they should recruit aggressively for permanent positions. Reininger has also received funding from the Spencer Foundation to examine school principal recruitment, retention, and career paths through a detailed analysis of the hiring process and new principals' first three years on the job.

A former chemistry teacher, Reininger received a PhD in the economics of education and an MA in economics from Stanford University and an MA in education policy from the University of Virginia.