Anastasia betts, phd

Dr. Anastasia Betts is a learning scientist, educational innovator, and thought leader dedicated to

advancing research and practice in early childhood education, learning sciences, and AI-powered

educational technologies. With over 30 years of experience spanning PreK-16 education,

academia, EdTech, and curriculum design, Dr. Betts brings a multifaceted perspective to solving

complex educational challenges. In her role as Principal with CLN, she is responsible for business development and portfolio management of projects that sit at the intersection of learning science, curricular and programmatic design, and educational transformation efforts via strategy, capacity building and research. 

As Founder and Executive Director of Learnology Labs, a collaborative nonprofit think tank, Dr.

Betts leads cutting-edge research on learning outcomes, equity, and ethics in education. Her work

focuses on, among other things, developing evidence-based frameworks and tools to support the

responsible integration of AI in educational settings. Her recent work with the Federation of

American Scientists has focused on developing policy recommendations to create accelerated

research pathways for evaluating AI-powered educational tools while prioritizing student safety

and evidence-based practices.

Previously, as Senior Vice President of Curriculum Design at Age of Learning Inc., Dr. Betts led

the research, design, and production of digital learning products for children ages 2-13 years old.

Her pioneering work in mastery-based, personalized adaptive learning systems resulted in three

U.S. patents, as well as developing the learning curriculum and design of well-known programs

like ABCmouse.com.

Dr. Betts holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, & the Science of Learning from the

University at Buffalo, SUNY. Her dissertation examined critical factors in parent-child

mathematics engagement, leading to the development of the innovative RESET (Role,

Expectations, Skills, Efficacy, Time) framework for investigating early home math environments.

A prolific researcher and author, Dr. Betts has published extensively on topics including AI in

education, early childhood education and development, and innovative approaches to curriculum

design. She is the editor of the Handbook of Research for Innovative Approaches to Early

Childhood Education and Kindergarten Readiness; and first author on over a dozen published

papers.

Dr. Betts has been recognized with numerous honors, including nominations for the American

Educational Research Association (AERA) Karen King Future Leader Award, selection as a

Harvard Women in Educational Leadership Fellow, and recipient of the Leroy Callahan award

for promising mathematics researchers.

Dr. Betts is a passionate advocate for learner-centered, personalized education that empowers

students to develop agency and intrinsic motivation. Her philosophy emphasizes the importance

of involving learners in the design of their educational experiences and creating meaningful

contexts for learning. Through her research, writing, and leadership, Dr. Betts continues to push

the boundaries of educational innovation, working to ensure that all children have access to high-

quality, personalized learning experiences that prepare them for success in the 21st century.