IMPROVE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant - Project Management and Implementation
- Specialist for the US Virgin Islands Department of Education
Carissa Zakers is a program evaluation specialist for the US Virgin Islands Department of Education, where she has worked for more than 10 years. In this role, she was the project manager for the Implementation of the Vital Records Information Management System; the project lead for the implementation of the Virgin Islands Data Governance Program for the Virgin Islands Virtual Information System (VIVIS); the project lead for the implementation of the Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) in VIVIS; and she led all phases and activities of the VIVIS ECIDS Data Governance Program. In addition, Carissa independently organized, conducted, and led activities related to the Federal Impact Aid Application, the Certify Data Validation program, and the National Student ClearingHouse Student Tracker. Previously, Carissa worked in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of the Virgin Islands.
Education and Certifications:
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (Clark Atlanta University)
Carissa Zakers is a program evaluation specialist for the US Virgin Islands Department of Education, where she has worked for more than 10 years. In this role, she was the project manager for the Implementation of the Vital Records Information Management System; the project lead for the implementation of the Virgin Islands Data Governance Program … Continue reading "Carissa...
Job Titles:
- Expert
- President of the Society for Research
- Principal Management Consultant - Program Evaluation
Dr. Rebecca Maynard is a leading expert in the design and conduct of randomized controlled trials in the areas of education and social policy. She has conducted influential methodological research, including co-developing PowerUP! to support efficient sample designs for causal inference studies, and she has been influential in advancing the development and application of research synthesis methods. For 12 years, Dr. Maynard was the director of the University of Pennsylvania's Predoctoral Training Program in Interdisciplinary Methods for Field-based Education Research. Previously, she served as commissioner of the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). In this role, she oversaw the Institute's evaluation initiatives, the What Works Clearinghouse, the Regional Education Laboratories, and the National Library of Education (including ERIC). Prior to joining the University of Pennsylvania, she was senior VP at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Dr. Maynard has a varied portfolio of research projects, including serving on the leadership team for the What Works Clearinghouse Reviews, Reporting, Dissemination and Development project and as co-PI for an IES-funded project of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness to develop a Registry of Causal Inference Research in Education. Dr. Maynard also is co-investigator for the Center for Research Use in Education, as well as for two studies of Year Up's Professional Training Corps programs-one funded by GreenLight Fund (Philadelphia) that is specific to Year Up's partnership program with Peirce College and the other an IES-funded development project that encompasses Year Up's nationwide network of Professional Training Corps Programs.
Dr. Maynard is president of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness, a member of the Society for Research Synthesis Methodology, a fellow of the American Educational Research Association, and a member of the Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics management committee. She is past president of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) and methods editor for both the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management and the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness. She has received APPAM's Peter H. Rossi Award for Contributions to the Theory and Practice of Program Evaluation (2009), the Society for Prevention Research Public Service Award (2008; co-recipient), and the Best Book Award from the Society for Research on Adolescence (1998).
Education and Certifications:
Doctorate, Economics (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
Bachelor of Arts, Economics (University of Connecticut / Phi Beta Kappa)
Peer Reviewer Certification, Group Designs 2.1 (What Works Clearinghouse)
Dr. Rebecca Maynard is a leading expert in the design and conduct of randomized controlled trials in the areas of education and social policy. She has conducted influential methodological research, including co-developing PowerUP! to support efficient sample designs for causal inference studies, and she has been influential in advancing the development and application of research … Continue reading "Rebecca...
Job Titles:
- Managing Director and Owner of Public Sector Performance Associates LLC
- Senior Project Manager - Risk Assessment
M. Monica Sanchez is the managing director and owner of Public Sector Performance Associates LLC, a company that focuses on helping organizations increase operational efficiency. She has 18 years of experience serving the operational improvement needs of organizations, mainly in local and state government. Monica's experience spans across numerous public-sector entities (both governments and nonprofits), including school district operations. Her specialties include business process control assessments, compliance reviews, and evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of business functions, programs, operations, processes, and services. She has dedicated her career to improving operations, from production to transactional systems, from field to business functions, and from a single process to the entity as a whole. Her work typically results in mechanisms for increased accountability and eliminating waste in the value stream, all while reducing costs, meeting customer expectations, and, ultimately, helping organizations achieve their mission and bottom line objectives. Monica is the immediate past president and the current vice president of education of the west Coast Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).
Education and Certifications:
Masters Degree in Science, Engineering Systems Management (University of South Florida)
Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Engineering (Universidad Nacional Experimental del Táchira, Venezuela)
Institute of Internal Auditors (Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP))
M. Monica Sanchez is the managing director and owner of Public Sector Performance Associates LLC, a company that focuses on helping organizations increase operational efficiency. She has 18 years of experience serving the operational improvement needs of organizations, mainly in local and state government. Monica's experience spans across numerous public-sector entities (both governments and nonprofits), … Continue reading "M. Monica...
Meaghan Townsend is a rising sophomore at Harvard University, where she is concentrating in English with a secondary in Educational Studies. Interning for Improve, LLC, she is deeply interested in a career in educational management. Meaghan has extensive experience in peer-to-peer education through tutoring and mentorship programs. She currently works as a Resource Efficiency Program Representative for Harvard's Office for Sustainability, where she runs educational campaigns for students and collaborates with administrators to make sustainable changes in university facilities and operations.
Ms. Ullman, the President of Improve, LLC, increases the management capacity of educational agencies by providing strategic, organizational, operational, and project management consulting for public sector institutions. In Ms. Ullman's nearly 30 years of consulting experience she has consulted over 50 state and local governments in 20 states. Ms. Ullman also served on the Malcolm Baldrige Board of Examiners for the U.S. Department of Commerce where she helped develop and assess total quality management principles for educational and private sector organizations. Before starting her own company, Ms. Ullman was a Managing Director and National K-12 Education Lead for BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting). Ms. Ullman graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Ullman, the President of Improve, LLC, increases the management capacity of educational agencies by providing strategic, organizational, operational, and project management consulting for public sector institutions. In Ms. Ullman's nearly 30 years of consulting experience she has consulted over 50 state and local governments in 20 states. Ms. Ullman also served on the Malcolm … Continue reading "Nona...
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Manager - Program Evaluation, Data Analytics, and Technology
Phillip Dunn, III, is an experienced Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a demonstrated history of working in the digital learning industry. For more than 10 years, he has served in public education, first as the Director of Strategic Analysis for the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE), then as CIO of both Stamford and Greenwich Public Schools. Phil holds a JD from Seton Hall University School of Law, and he is admitted to the New York State bar. He also holds an MA in Quantitative Methodology from Columbia University and a BS in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Cornell University.
Education and Certifications:
Juris Doctor Degree (Seton Hall University School of Law / admitted to NYS Bar)
Master of Arts, Quantitative Methodology (Columbia University)
Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics and Statistics (Cornell University)
Job Titles:
- Director
- Senior Project Manager - Research and Evaluation
Randolph Thomas spent 10 years as the director of planning, research, and evaluation for the US Virgin Islands Department of Education. He was also the project director of the Virgin Islands Virtual Information System (VIVIS). As part of his numerous accomplishments, he created and led the VIVIS, from envisioning to creation to implementation. Randolph also managed all activities under the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, including having oversight over multiple research projects with the Regional Educational Lab, Northeast and the Islands. In addition, he oversaw the procurement and implementation process for the Powerschool Student Information System, including writing a request for proposals.
Education and Certifications:
Bachelor's Degree (College of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas)
Project Management Institute Certification Training; Graduate Level PUA Training
Randolph Thomas spent 10 years as the director of planning, research, and evaluation for the US Virgin Islands Department of Education. He was also the project director of the Virgin Islands Virtual Information System (VIVIS). As part of his numerous accomplishments, he created and led the VIVIS, from envisioning to creation to implementation. Randolph also … Continue reading "Randolph...
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Manager - Change Management / Shannon
Shannon Stautberg is a certified change management consultant with more than 18 years of experience serving in project and change management roles for large-scale system implementations, as well as performing strategic and operational analysis projects for government agencies and companies in the private and public sectors. She has performed best-practice benchmarking and qualitative analysis for some of the world's largest market research firms, with participants ranging from senior public officials and C-level finance executives to everyday consumers of leading consumer products.
Job Titles:
- Expert
- Senior Project Manager - Operational Efficiency and Financial Analysis
Stuart Grifel is a recognized subject matter expert in improving operational and organizational performance in the public sector. A former teacher in the Yonkers, NY, public school system, he is currently serving as the consulting director for Public Sector Performance Associates of Tampa, Florida. For more than 25 years, Stuart has helped improve operational efficiency and effectiveness in local and state government entities, including school districts; these significant cost-effective improvements in government service delivery resulted from successfully conducting operational, performance, compliance, and financial audits, using outcome-focused performance data. Stuart's extensive experience includes working with KPMG; the National Center for Public Performance at Rutgers University; the Florida Innovations Group; the City of Miami Beach, Florida; the City of Austin, Texas; the State of Florida, and other governments throughout the United States. He is the past president and current membership chair of the Institute of Internal Auditors Palm Beach County, Florida Chapter, as well as and past president of the Austin, Texas Chapter.
Education and Certifications:
Master of Business Administration (Suffolk University, Boston, MA)
Master of Public Administration (Baruch College, City University of New York)
Institute of Internal Auditors (Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Government Auditing Professional)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (Certified Fraud Examiner)
Stuart Grifel is a recognized subject matter expert in improving operational and organizational performance in the public sector. A former teacher in the Yonkers, NY, public school system, he is currently serving as the consulting director for Public Sector Performance Associates of Tampa, Florida. For more than 25 years, Stuart has helped improve operational efficiency … Continue reading "Stuart...
Ms. Edelson is a results-oriented consultant dedicated to helping organizations achieve their goals. With more than 15 years of strategic communications experience, Ms. Edelson is skilled at turning complex technology concepts into easy-to-understand content. Her expertise ranges from strategic communications, process development, training program creation, and change management communication to cross-functional alignment and collaboration. In her work with Improve, Ms. Edelson has served as a change communication consultant to the State University of New York (SUNY) as they worked to develop SUNY Online, creating communication plans to guide the internal SUNY Online roll-out. Ms. Edelson holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University.