Stephanie Fakharzadeh, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

As the manager of a four-person team of data and evaluation professionals, I develop and implement the strategic vision and mission of the team to ensure that our collaboration with program staff aligns with the data-related needs of their teams and our partner educators. I provide individualized performance management and professional guidance to members of the team, monitor our progress towards our KPIs, and facilitate collaboration across workstreams. Projects I supervise range from surveys of students and teachers to qualitative process evaluations of our mentoring programs to implementation of a strategic data calendar that guides data-driven decision-making for school administrators.

New Haven, Connecticut

Constructed a new, integrated research agenda that uses mixed methods research to guide internal practices within the organization. Utilized methods ranging from analysis of internal student data in R and distribution of student surveys to user experience evaluations of internal data dashboards.Developed a case study through participatory ethnography and semi-structured interviews that highlighted the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of equitable grading practices in a RISE high school.Co-designed a student data storage system aligned with needs identified by cross-departmental stakeholder interviews. Led professional development to optimize use. Conducted a quantitative research study to validate the findings of the University of Chicago’s Grade 9 on-track research in the context of RISE Network schools. Presented findings to educators from new partner schools to build investment and urgency. Had a paper accepted to the 2020 AERA conference.Released a public issue brief based on multilevel logistic regression analyses of student data investigating demographic enrollment patterns and equity gaps between remote and hybrid learners in the RISE Network during the Fall of 2020.Supporting teachers, counselors, and administrators in continuous improvement cycles.Facilitating design thinking workshops and other trainings with staff from partner high schools to help them advance work in the areas of Grade 9 on-track and college and career readiness.

Participated in a research fellowship that connected a network of 36 like-minded, data-savvy professionals in the field of education through regular professional development and collaborative projects. Produced a capstone project focused on building a process for embedding an applied research agenda within a non-profit organization, and used this process to launch an analysis of attendance trends within the Connecticut RISE Network's high schools.

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Doctoral dissertation: Analyzed data from the US sample of the OECD’s 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey using two-level mixed effects models in STATA-13 to investigate:1) How is the organizational capacity of a school associated with the quality of its teachers’ professional development (PD) experiences?2) How is the feedback that teachers receive at a school related to their transfer of learning from PD back into the classroom?Findings will be presented at the 2018 AERA Annual Meeting.Additional Research Projects:Equipping High School Teachers to Increase Student Motivation and Course Passing RatesInstitute of Education Sciences Development Grant • Developed and refined PD sessions about boosting student motivation and engagement.• Captured detailed ethnographic field notes about teacher learning during PD sessions.• Created and distributed online and in-person teacher PD satisfaction surveys.• Managed graduate student analysis of teacher survey data using Stata.• Conducted diagnostic, qualitative observations of teachers’ classrooms to identify needs for teacher PD.• Supervised in-person administration of student surveys about math instruction.Evaluation of the Science of Teaching Academy Institute of Education Sciences Development Grant • Used adapted CLASS-secondary observation tools to evaluate the instructional quality of in-person and video-recorded PD sessions designed to enable teachers to use scientific research about teaching and learning in their classrooms.• Recorded detailed ethnographic notes during translational research sessions where teachers received assistance in developing their own action research projects based on methods they learned during the academy.Selected Coursework:Hierarchical Linear ModelsCategorical Data AnalysisLinear Models for the Social SciencesQuantitative Research MethodsQualitative Research MethodsEducation PolicyControversies in Measurement

London, United Kingdom

Provided targeted one-on-one and small group interventions and tutoring for students in Key Stage 3 (7th Grade) who were performing three months-five years behind grade level to help them improve their reading skills and strategies. Worked with classroom teachers to provide guided reading instruction for students and managed student use of Lexia, an online reading intervention program.

Milwaukee

Planned and implemented a seven-week training program for new tutors regarding instructional methods and leadership development. Determined the program scope and sequence, facilitated trainings, coached staff facilitators, and recruited partner organizations for presentations. Trained new tutors in student data analysis.

Greater Milwaukee Area

Supervised two teams of tutors and mentors working at Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School and Rogers Street Academy. Offered professional development support to corps members, provided them with observations and feedback on their tutoring sessions, and maintained positive relationships with our school partners.

Greater Milwaukee Area

Taught reading and writing to my homeroom of 19 5th grade students, leading my class to make 1.3 years of reading growth. Taught science to both my homeroom class and two other 5th grade classes using a self-designed science curriculum. Wrote an original integrated unit that examined climate change in a hands-on way from many perspectives. Tracked student data to determine most effective strategies for improving their performance.

Greater Milwaukee Area

• Attended a 6-week intensive training program, learned effective teaching methods and taught summer school. • During teaching positions below, attended monthly professional development sessions with TFA and used their systems for tracking student achievement data and investing students in their education. • Worked closely with my Program Director to improve my teaching methods through observations and coaching.

Greater Milwaukee Area

Effectively taught a self-contained third grade classroom of 26 students. Trained in Reading Best Practices. Offered strong differentiated literacy instruction.

Assistant taught organic cultural cooking classes and outdoor garden science classes at Samuel J. Green Charter School with students ages 5-13. Directed student “cafeteria culture” jobs to improve the social and physical environment of the cafeteria. Assisted with Open Garden Days, which allowed community members to exchange gardening and cooking techniques with the program. Researched food security in New Orleans and the impact of garden education on post-disaster school systems.

Collaborated with staff to plan and execute program activities and logistics for students and parents during New Student Orientation. Selected, hired, and trained 36 Orientation Leaders. Led groups of incoming first year students in community building, social justice, and academic planning activities.

Burlington, Vt

Provided guidance and programming for first year students in the UVM Honors College to help them transition into college life.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Education

Masters, Educational Policy And Leadership (Elementary Education)

Ba, Environmental Studies

Activities and Societies: The Tower Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Honors College