Linda Hestenes
Ph.D., Purdue University
Research
- Measuring quality in child care programs – indoors and outdoors
- The impact of outdoor quality on young children’s behavior and development
- Considerations for nature-based programs for young children
- Teacher-child interactions in early childhood settings
- Community-based scholarship and literacy development in young refugee children and their families
Selected Publications
RECENT PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Rodrigues, B. L. C., & Hestenes, L. L. (2025). What about the influence of outdoor quality on preschoolers’ cognitive and social skills? Early Education and Development, 32(2), 283-305. DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2024.2389364
Boit, R. J., Birabwa, J. C., Altaki, D., Bayer, S., Kamau, M., & Hestenes, L. (2024). The role of cultural brokers in community-based research. Journal of Community of Engagement and Higher Education, 16(1), 16-21.
Boit, R. J., Bayer, S., Birabwa, J.,Hestenes, L., Mckoy, M., & Eastern, A. (2024). Learning together through shared-book reading: Experiences of Burmese refugee families and their preschoolers. Early Childhood Education Journal, 53, 1451-1466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01655-3
Butterworth, L., Denham, M., & Hestenes, L. (2024). Exploring the structural inequalities of the Individualized Education Program: A dis/ability critical race theory perspective. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 44(3), 217-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/027112142312244
Boit, R., Eastern, A., Bayer, S., Birabwa, J., Mckoy, M, & Hestenes, L. (2024). Navigating educational success for their young children in the Unites States: Refugee families draw from their experiences. Early Childhood Education Journal, 52(8), 1827-1840. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-023-01522-7
Coleman, H., Boit, R., Butterworth, L., Ozdemir, M., Ricks, T., La Paro, K., Hestenes, L., & Aal-Anubia, A. (2023). Students’ experiences in team taught courses in an interdisciplinary early childhood teacher education program. Journal of Teaching and Teacher Education, 121, 1-10.
Siskind, D. G., La Paro, K. M., Crosby, D. A., Hestenes, L., & Mendez Smith, J. (2023). Who’s teaching the teachers? An exploration of early childhood teacher preparation program faculty’s cultural competence, work burnout, and teaching efficacy. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 44(3), 425-444. https://doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2022.2086509
Coleman, H., Hestenes, L. L., & Ozdemir, M. (2021). Quality in inclusive and non-inclusive infant and toddler classrooms: What are the trends after 15 years? Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 36(1), 126-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2021.1880995
Barnes, A., Boit, R., Conlin, D., & Hestenes, L. (2021). Engaging in interactive book reading: Experiences of refugee mother-child dyads. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-020-01142-5
Boit, R., Conlin, D., Barnes, A., & Hestenes, L. (2021). Supporting refugee preschooler’s early learning: Combined capitals and strengths of refugee families, an agency and a community preschool program. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies, 19(2),199-212. DOI: 10.1080/15562948.2020.1795775
Siskind, D., Conlin, D., Hestenes, L., Kim, S., Barnes, A., & Yaya-Bryson, D. (2020). Balancing technology and outdoor learning: Implications for early childhood teacher educators. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education. DOI: 10.1080/10901027.2020.1859024
Boit, R. J., Barnes, A. C., Conlin, D., & Hestenes, L. (2020). Voices of refugee mothers: Navigating the complexities of supporting their preschool children’s literacy development. Early Childhood Education Journal, 48, 683-691. https://doi-org.libproxy.uncg.edu/10.1007/s10643-020-01028-6
RECENT TECHNICAL REPORTS
Rodrigues, B. L. C., Hestenes, L., & Wrather, A. (2024). The influences of nature-based programs in young children’s development across multiple domains: A current literature review. Report submitted to the Division of Child Development and Early Education and the Natural Learning Initiative for the UNCG Visioning for Nature-Based Programs and Spaces in NC project.
Hestenes, L., & Bayer, S. (2023). Summary of findings – ITERS-R data 2015-2020 from the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project. Final report submitted to Child Trends for the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Renewal Grant State-wide Birth to 3 Program Feasibility and Cost Study.
Hestenes, L., Rodrigues, B. L. C., & Denham, M. (2021). Outdoor learning environment evaluation: Infant/toddler Shape NC Healthy Starts for Young Children initiative final report. Report submitted to the Natural Learning Initiative, North Carolina State University.
RECENT PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS
Wrather, A., Hestenes, L. L., Cosco, N., Babb, M., & Moore, R. (2025, May). Changes in outdoor environments in early childhood programs over 20 years in North Carolina. Poster presentation at the Children and Nature Network – Nature Everywhere Conference, Saint Paul, MN.
Hestenes, L. L., Searcy, S., Rodrigues, B., Denham, M., Lewis, R., & Wrather, A. (2024, August). How do preschool children’s play behaviors compare between a forest setting and a traditional playground? A study of one class’s experience across the two environments. Presentation at the Natural Start Alliance Conference, Portland, OR.
Rodrigues, B., Searcy, S., Denham, M., Hestenes, L., Lewis, R., & Wrather, A. (2024, August). From research to practice: How we might envision gathering functional data on children in outdoor learning environments. Poster presentation at the Natural Start Alliance Conference, Portland, OR.
Lewis, R., Hestenes, L., Rodrigues, B., Denham, M., Searcy, S., & Wrather, A. (2024, August). It started with one “Yes” – the journey of one urban child care center to include forest experiences for preschool children. Virtual presentation at the Natural Start Alliance Conference, Portland, OR.
Hestenes, L. L., Rucker, L., Rodrigues, B., Hestenes, S., & Mims, S. (2023, March). Temporary assessment process insights: Use of modified evaluations and reflective self-study in North Carolina. Poster presentation at the Biennial Conference for the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
Rodrigues, B., & Hestenes, L. L. (2023, March). What about the impact of outdoor quality? The unique associations between outdoor quality and preschool children’s cognitive and social skills. Poster presentation at the Biennial Conference for the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
Denham, M., Rodrigues, B., & Hestenes, L. (2023, March). Outdoor learning environments for infants and toddlers: Perceived impact of affordances on development and behavior. Poster presentation at the Biennial Conference for the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
Boit, R., Bayer, S., Birabwa, J., Hestenes, L., & Kamau, M. (2023, March). Shared book reading experiences among Burmese refugee families and their preschool-age children. Flash presentation at the Biennial Conference for the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
Bayer, S., Boit, R., Birabwa, J., Hestenes, L., & Kamau, M. (2023, March). Navigating educational success for their young children in the U.S.: Refugee families draw from their experiences. Poster presentation at the Biennial Conference for the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
Birabwa, J., & Hestenes, L. L. (2023, March). “I can say pandemics affected many things,” Congolese refugees’ lived experiences during COVID-19. Poster presentation at the Biennial Conference for the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
Denham, M., Hestenes, L., & Rodrigues, B. (2022, May). Before and after: How high-quality outdoor environments offer infants and toddlers unique experiences. Poster presented at the Children and Nature Network International Inside-Out Conference. Atlanta, Georgia.
Denham, M., Rodrigues, B., & Hestenes, L. (2022, April). Play and learning opportunities for infants and toddlers on renovated high quality outdoor environments. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Special Topic Meeting: Learning through Play and Imagination: Expanding Perspectives. St. Louis, Missouri.
Rodrigues, B., Denham, M. & Hestenes, L. (2022, April). Physical play affordances for infants and toddlers on renovated high quality outdoor environments. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Special Topic Meeting: Learning through Play and Imagination: Expanding Perspectives. St. Louis, Missouri.
RECENT INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Hestenes, L., Wrather, A., & Rodrigues, B. L. C. (August 28, 2024). NC early childhood nature-based surveys: Administrators/teachers and parents. Invited presentation to the Natural Learning Initiative and NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Outdoor Play and Learning Environments Advisory Committee meeting, Greensboro, NC.
Hestenes, L. (May 22 2024). Nature preschool visioning process. Invited presentation to the Natural Learning Initiative and NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Outdoor Play and Learning Environments regional meeting, Raleigh, NC.
Cosco, N., Moore, R., & Hestenes, L. (January, 2024). Supporting naturalized outdoor play and learning environments in North Carolina child care facilities: System-wide kick off webinar. Invited presentation by the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education.
RECENT EXTERNAL GRANTS
North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project. (2024). North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education. November 2024 – October 2025 ($3,290,000). Funded. (Co-Principal Investigators: L. Hestenes, S. Mims, & S. Hestenes).
North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project – IT Support. (2024). North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education. November 2024 – October 2025 ($54,517). Funded. (Co-Principal Investigators: L. Hestenes, S. Mims, & S. Hestenes).
UNCG Grow Outdoors SC Evaluation. (2023). North Carolina State University. October 2023 to March 2024 ($61,138). Funded. PI: Linda Hestenes
Pyramid Model Intervention Enhancement for the Preschool Teachers of Children with Challenging Behaviors. (2023). Cemala Foundation. September 2023 to August 2024 ($1440). Funded. PI: Savannah Bayer; Co-PI: Linda Hestenes
Visioning for Nature-Based Programs and Spaces in North Carolina. (2023). North Carolina State University. August 2023 – August 2025 ($111,999). Funded. PI: Linda Hestenes.
RECENT INTERNAL GRANTS
A Community Comes Together: Supporting Integration of Newly Arrived Congolese Refugees Through Empowerment and Facilitating Young Children’s Readiness for School. (2021). Community-Engaged Pathways and Partnerships (P2): A Collective Scholarship Fellows Program (2022) offered by UNCG’s Institute for Community and Economic Engagement in the Office of Research and Engagement. ($16,000). Funded. January 2022 – December 2024. (Principal Investigator: R. Boit; Co-PI: L. Hestenes; Investigators: J. Bulls, C. Mbangu, D. Muhoro, H. Mwadwi, and L. Thompson).