Ireri Valenzuela Email & Phone Number

California, United States

I oversee the overall coordination and implementation of the Leading from the Middle (LFM) Academy. Through my leadership, I support the development of emerging middle leaders by creatively blending my passion for organization and systems change, team coaching and development, qualitative research, adult education, and program design.

San Francisco Bay Area

As senior researcher I work on diverse research and evaluation projects focused on increasing student success in CA community colleges at the state and local level. My responsibilities include:• Drafting evaluation and analysis plans • Overseeing quantitative and qualitative data collection efforts • Conducting implementation site visits, interviews, and student focus groups• Developing observation and interview/focus group protocols • Providing formative and summative… Show more As senior researcher I work on diverse research and evaluation projects focused on increasing student success in CA community colleges at the state and local level. My responsibilities include:• Drafting evaluation and analysis plans • Overseeing quantitative and qualitative data collection efforts • Conducting implementation site visits, interviews, and student focus groups• Developing observation and interview/focus group protocols • Providing formative and summative evaluation findings to inform program improvement efforts• Developing and administering surveys• Data analysis and report writing• Presentations aimed at disseminating findings Show less

As the lead Coaching Coordinator for LFM I work to:• Strengthen and continuously improve the LFM transformational coaching program model; assess program strengths and identify areas for improvement.• Ensure coaching content aligns with and supports the LFM curriculum.• Work collaboratively with the LFM Director to develop and implement outreach and recruitment activities to increase LFM’s coaching pool.• Develop and provide a new coaches’ orientation.• Provide support to LFM… Show more As the lead Coaching Coordinator for LFM I work to:• Strengthen and continuously improve the LFM transformational coaching program model; assess program strengths and identify areas for improvement.• Ensure coaching content aligns with and supports the LFM curriculum.• Work collaboratively with the LFM Director to develop and implement outreach and recruitment activities to increase LFM’s coaching pool.• Develop and provide a new coaches’ orientation.• Provide support to LFM coaches with a diverse array of talents and experiences coaching cross-functional teams of community college practitioners.• Design, implement, and deliver professional development opportunities for LFM coaches.• Supervise and evaluate the performance of LFM coaches.• Develop and lead the LFM Coaching Community of Practice.• Work with RP staff to develop and execute coaching contracts.• Collaborate with the LFM Director and steering committee leads on the strategic growth of LFM and actively participate in regular meetings. Show less

Oakland, Ca

As part of MDRC's National Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration aimed at evaluating the effects of performance based scholarships on student retention, persistence and degree completion:• Designed and implemented a Scholarship Plus Services Program for Latino Men in collaboration with Pima Community College leadership and staff in Tucson, Arizona. • Facilitated the integration of performance-based scholarships into California Cash for College, a state-wide financial aid… Show more As part of MDRC's National Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration aimed at evaluating the effects of performance based scholarships on student retention, persistence and degree completion:• Designed and implemented a Scholarship Plus Services Program for Latino Men in collaboration with Pima Community College leadership and staff in Tucson, Arizona. • Facilitated the integration of performance-based scholarships into California Cash for College, a state-wide financial aid assistance program for high school seniors, operated by the California Student Aid Commission and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.• Trained, supported and monitored program staff in California and Arizona on the implementation of quantitative research procedures.• Developed qualitative research protocols and conducted focus groups, interviews and observations with students, program staff and administrators for the Arizona and California programs. Analyzed data for formative and summative evaluation purposes.• Co-authored the California and Arizona programs' early findings reports. • Co-authored technical assistance guide for developing performance-based scholarship programs.Organized and coordinated two national conferences for practitioners, academics, funders, and policy makers on promising practices of Learning Communities and Performance-Based Scholarships. Show less

As part of California Tomorrow's Community College Access and Equity Initiative:• Conceptualized, implemented and oversaw all aspects of the Community College Campus Change Network, aimed at supporting community college campus teams develop and or strengthen strategies to improve student equity and success for low-income students and students of color utilizing a systems change approach. • Facilitated and coached groups of high level administrators, faculty, staff and students… Show more As part of California Tomorrow's Community College Access and Equity Initiative:• Conceptualized, implemented and oversaw all aspects of the Community College Campus Change Network, aimed at supporting community college campus teams develop and or strengthen strategies to improve student equity and success for low-income students and students of color utilizing a systems change approach. • Facilitated and coached groups of high level administrators, faculty, staff and students from 16 community colleges across California on systems change, equity and inclusion and evidence based decision making which resulted in policy changes and improved processes to support student success. • Co-authored and disseminated a series of policy briefs with recommendations on how to address the needs of low-income and students of color and the needs of the community college system to support their success to policy makers and practitioners Show less

Oakland, Ca

• Developed qualitative research protocols and conducted interviews with a range of high level administrators and faculty on workforce preparation in a sample of 10 community colleges across California. • Prepared and presented policy recommendations on the integration of career ladders into workforce preparation programs in community colleges to the California Community College Board of Governors.

San Francisco, Ca

• Established and directed a new programmatic area for the organization -- Bridges to Health -- which encompassed strategically leading the development and implementation of three initiatives: policy advocacy, community capacity building, and innovative investments in community health. • Leveraged existing partnerships between local communities and the private sector to drive both human and capital resources to create health improvements in local communities.

Oakland

• Provided national consultation and training in strategy development, systems change approaches and coalition building with a focus on multidisciplinary collaborations for community-based and government practitioners.• Conducted and synthesized research to improve strategies for prevention initiatives in the areas of traffic safety, health disparities, communities of color, and intentional and unintentional inju-ry.

San Francisco, Ca

• Worked collaboratively with staff from 5 community based non-profits to create – The Supportive Housing Employment Collaborative (SHEC) aimed at providing holistic and comprehensive educational/vocational, case management and employment services to formerly homeless adults. • Designed and implemented an effective workplace education program to reinforcement the skills of a maintenance and a bakery and cafe training program which resulted in over 100 homeless adults successfully completing… Show more • Worked collaboratively with staff from 5 community based non-profits to create – The Supportive Housing Employment Collaborative (SHEC) aimed at providing holistic and comprehensive educational/vocational, case management and employment services to formerly homeless adults. • Designed and implemented an effective workplace education program to reinforcement the skills of a maintenance and a bakery and cafe training program which resulted in over 100 homeless adults successfully completing their training programs. Show less

Fresno, Ca

• Initiated and implemented an adult ESL program for Mexican and South East Asian adults which included program management, curriculum design and literacy and ESL instruction to adults with a variety of skill levels. • Coordinated all aspects of the Literacy Council's tutoring program which entailed recruiting, screening and training volunteer tutors to provide free one-on-one tutoring to English-speaking adults who sought to improve their basic reading and writing skills, conducting… Show more • Initiated and implemented an adult ESL program for Mexican and South East Asian adults which included program management, curriculum design and literacy and ESL instruction to adults with a variety of skill levels. • Coordinated all aspects of the Literacy Council's tutoring program which entailed recruiting, screening and training volunteer tutors to provide free one-on-one tutoring to English-speaking adults who sought to improve their basic reading and writing skills, conducting literacy assessments, developing program materials, providing instructional resources for tutors and learners and conducting ongoing formative evaluation to ensure program effectiveness. Show less

Masters Of Arts In Adult Education, Education

Bachelors Of Arts, Sociology