Anja Kurki

Anja Kurki leads research, development, and professional learning initiatives focused on multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for reading and behavior, student absenteeism, and the implementation and scaling of evidence-based practices in schools. Her work spans the development, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative educational technologies, including teacher-facing decision-support tools and informational interventions designed to improve instructional quality, implementation fidelity, and the long-term sustainability of effective practices.

Dr. Kurki serves as project director for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded Multi-Tiered System of Support for Reading in Early Elementary School effectiveness trial and previously directed implementation, training, and technical assistance activities for an IES-funded study examining a Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavior. Across these and other large-scale studies, she has led efforts to strengthen implementation quality and support meaningful partnerships between researchers, educators, and school systems.

As principal investigator or co-principal investigator, Dr. Kurki leads a federally funded study evaluating a technology-based family engagement intervention designed to reduce student absenteeism and a study developing and testing a teacher-facing tool to support the implementation of structured peer-mediated learning. She also serves as senior advisor on several projects, including research examining the effectiveness of an animatronic “Bouncy” service dog in supporting self-regulation and other durable skills among early elementary students.

Dr. Kurki is nationally recognized for her expertise in implementation science and in designing recruitment and retention strategies for large-scale education research studies. Her work focuses on building strong research-practice partnerships and developing implementation systems that support the adoption, scaling, and sustained use of evidence-based interventions. Through her research and development efforts, she helps bridge the gap between educational innovation and routine practice, ensuring that effective solutions can be implemented successfully and at scale to improve outcomes for students and educators.