Results for America's
Invest in What Works
State Education Fellowship
Since 2017, Results for America has been bringing together senior State Education Agency evaluation and program leaders into a single, first-of-its-kind network focused on building and using evidence and data to improve education outcomes and advance economic mobility and racial equity.
State Education Fellows are champions of investing in what works and are helping make evidence-based policymaking the new normal in education. Cohorts I and II of the State Education Fellowship spanned the nation, supporting a total of 62 state education leaders across 14 states. Fellows took on a range of data- and evidence-focused priorities, including: improving their states’ implementation of ESSA’s evidence provisions; strengthening their ability to understand the needs of their homeless student population; piloting and rapidly evaluating new programs designed to improve school leaders’ ability to serve English language learners; improved cross-office collaboration on supporting evidence-based strategies; and bringing evidence-based resources to educators across their state.
In January 2023, Results for America welcomed 11 states to the third cohort of the State Education Fellowship. These states join a growing coalition of education leaders who are committed to accelerating the generation and use of evidence in an effort to build stronger, more resilient education systems that prepare every student in every community to learn, grow and thrive.
Meet our State Education Fellows
Jonathan Isler
California
State Education Fellow
Administrator of the Data Visualization and Reporting Office (DVRO), California Department of Education
Jonathan Isler
California
State Education Fellow
Cindy Kazanis
California
State Education Fellow
Director of the Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division, California Department of Education
Cindy Kazanis
California
State Education Fellow
Liberty Van Nutten
California
State Education Fellow
Administrator of the Data Access and Strategy Office, California Department of Education
Liberty Van Nutten
California
State Education Fellow
Lisa Medler
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Executive Director of Accountability and Continuous Improvement, Colorado Department of Education
Lisa Medler
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Greg Nusz
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Program Evaluation and Data Manager for the School and Quality Support Division, Colorado Department of Education
Greg Nusz
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Celina Ketelsen
District of Columbia
State Education Fellow
Director, Academic Excellence and Training with the Division of Teaching and Learning, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
Celina Ketelsen
District of Columbia
State Education Fellow
Sarah Martin
District of Columbia
State Education Fellow
Senior Advisor for Recovery, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
Sarah Martin
District of Columbia
State Education Fellow
Linda Sun
District of Columbia
State Education Fellow
Director of Federal Programs and Strategic Funding, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
Linda Sun
District of Columbia
State Education Fellow
Erica Champagne
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Director, Office of Effective Practices in Turnaround, Center for District Support, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Erica Champagne
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Karen Johnston
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Student Opportunity Act Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Karen Johnston
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Simone Lynch
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Director, Federal Grant Programs, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Simone Lynch
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Kendra Winner
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Research and Evaluation Coordinator, Office of Planning and Research, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Kendra Winner
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Jeni Corn
North Carolina
State Education Fellow
Director of Research and Evaluation for the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Jeni Corn
North Carolina
State Education Fellow
Andrew Smith
North Carolina
State Education Fellow
Assistant State Superintendent for Innovation, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Andrew Smith
North Carolina
State Education Fellow
LaTricia Townsend
North Carolina
State Education Fellow
Senior Director of Federal Programs, North Carolina Department of Instruction
LaTricia Townsend
North Carolina
State Education Fellow
Sherine Tambyraja
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Dyslexia Administrator, Ohio Department of Education
Sherine Tambyraja
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Gregory Taylor
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Director of the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Advanced Analytics, Ohio Department of Education
Gregory Taylor
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Melissa M. Weber-Mayrer
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Director of the Office of Approaches to Teaching and Professional Learning, Ohio Department of Education
Melissa M. Weber-Mayrer
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Dan Farley
Oregon
State Education Fellow
Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Research, Assessment, Data, Accountability, and Reporting (RADAR), Oregon Department of Education
Dan Farley
Oregon
State Education Fellow
Evan Fuller
Oregon
State Education Fellow
Research Analyst in the Office of Research, Assessment, Data, Accountability, and Reporting (RADAR), Oregon Department of Education
Evan Fuller
Oregon
State Education Fellow
Elizabeth “Liz” Ross
Oregon
State Education Fellow
Director of Federal Systems in the Office of Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Oregon Department of Education
Elizabeth “Liz” Ross
Oregon
State Education Fellow
Julie Kane
Pennsylvania
State Education Fellow
Director of the Policy Office, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Julie Kane
Pennsylvania
State Education Fellow
Candy Miller
Pennsylvania
State Education Fellow
Research and Evaluation Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Candy Miller
Pennsylvania
State Education Fellow
Carissa Pokorny-Golden
Pennsylvania
State Education Fellow
Bureau Director for School Leadership and Teacher Quality, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Carissa Pokorny-Golden
Pennsylvania
State Education Fellow
Chelsea Crawford
Tennessee
State Education Fellow
Chief of Staff, Tennessee Department of Education
Chelsea Crawford
Tennessee
State Education Fellow
Sarah Rabovsky
Tennessee
State Education Fellow
Director of Research, Tennessee Department of Education
Sarah Rabovsky
Tennessee
State Education Fellow
Grace Shelton
Tennessee
State Education Fellow
Assistant Commissioner of Financial and Program Performance and Evaluation, Tennessee Department of Education
Grace Shelton
Tennessee
State Education Fellow
Jennifer Chidsey
Texas
State Education Fellow
Associate Commissioner of Organizational Development, Texas Education Agency
Jennifer Chidsey
Texas
State Education Fellow
STATE EDUCATION ALUMNI FELLOWS
Mindi Parsons
California
State Education Fellow
Administrator of the Integrated Student Support and Programs Office, California Department of Education
Mindi Parsons
California
State Education Fellow
Lindsay Tornatore, Ed.D.
California
State Education Fellow
Director of the Student Achievement and Support Division, California Department of Education
Lindsay Tornatore, Ed.D.
California
State Education Fellow
Sarajean Zocklein
California
State Education Fellow
Homeless and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged (SED) Youth Data Steward in the Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability, Reporting Division, California Department of Education
Sarajean Zocklein
California
State Education Fellow
Nate Goss
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Turnaround Program Coordinator, Colorado Department of Education
Nate Goss
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Marie Huchton
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Supervisor, Accountability Analytics, Colorado Department of Education
Marie Huchton
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Lindsey Jaeckel
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Director, School Turnaround Support, School Quality and Support Division, Colorado Department of Education
Lindsey Jaeckel
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Nazanin (Nazie) Mohajeri-Nelson
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Director of the ESEA Programs Office, Colorado Department of Education
Nazanin (Nazie) Mohajeri-Nelson
Colorado
State Education Fellow
Ajit Gopalakrishnan
Connecticut
State Education Fellow
Chief Performance Officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
Ajit Gopalakrishnan
Connecticut
State Education Fellow
Desi Nesmith
Connecticut
State Education Fellow
Chief Turnaround Officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
Desi Nesmith
Connecticut
State Education Fellow
Christine Alois
Delaware
State Education Fellow
Deputy Secretary - Performance Support, Delaware Department of Education
Christine Alois
Delaware
State Education Fellow
Michael Rodriguez
Delaware
State Education Fellow
Associate Secretary of Student Support, Delaware Department of Education
Michael Rodriguez
Delaware
State Education Fellow
Dr. Matthew B. Courtney
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Policy Advisor, Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, Kentucky Department of Education
Dr. Matthew B. Courtney
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Karen Dodd
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Chief Performance Officer, Office of the Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Education
Karen Dodd
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Dr. Kelly Foster
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Associate Commissioner, Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, Kentucky Department of Education
Dr. Kelly Foster
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Natasha Stein
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Education Administration Program Manager, Kentucky Department of Education
Natasha Stein
Kentucky
State Education Fellow
Carrie Conaway
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Chief Strategy and Research Officer, Office of Planning and Research, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Carrie Conaway
Massachusetts
State Education Fellow
Lisa Burton
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
Director, Data Practices and Analytics Division
Lisa Burton
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
Dennis Duffy
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
School Improvement Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Education
Dennis Duffy
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
Stephanie Graff
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
Director, Office of Equity and Opportunity, Minnesota Department of Education
Stephanie Graff
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
Greg Keith
Minnesota
State Education Fellows
Director, School Support, Minnesota Department of Education
Greg Keith
Minnesota
State Education Fellows
Dr. Teresa Taylor
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
Director of Student Access and Opportunity Division, Minnesota Department of Education
Dr. Teresa Taylor
Minnesota
State Education Fellow
Alan Burrow
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Executive Director of District and School Performance, Office of Accountability, Mississippi Department of Education
Alan Burrow
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Marla Davis
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
State Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Mississippi Department of Education
Marla Davis
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Ginger Koestler
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Office Director, Office of Special Education, Mississippi Department of Education
Ginger Koestler
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Yan Li
Mississippi
State Education Fellows
Director, Research and Development, Mississippi Department of Education
Yan Li
Mississippi
State Education Fellows
Judy Nelson
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Executive Director, Office of Federal Programs, Mississippi Department of Education
Judy Nelson
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Sonja Robertson
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Director, Office of School Improvement, Mississippi Department of Education
Sonja Robertson
Mississippi
State Education Fellow
Lynn Hoffman
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Director of District Support Services, Nevada Department of Education
Lynn Hoffman
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Gabby Lamarre
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Title I Director and Federal Liaison, Nevada Department of Education
Gabby Lamarre
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Sarah Nick
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Education Programs Professional, Nevada Department of Education
Sarah Nick
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Seng-Dao Yang Keo
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Director, School and Student Supports, Student Achievement Division, State of Nevada Department of Education
Seng-Dao Yang Keo
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Peter Zutz
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Administrator of Assessment, Data & Accountability Management, Student Achievement Division, State of Nevada Department of Education
Peter Zutz
Nevada
State Education Fellow
Seana Flanagan
New Mexico
State Education Fellow
Director, Educator Growth and Development, Teaching and Learning/Educator Quality, New Mexico Public Education Department
Seana Flanagan
New Mexico
State Education Fellow
Elisabeth Nixon-Peterson
New Mexico
State Education Fellow
Director, Priority Schools Bureau, School Transformation/Priority Schools, New Mexico Public Education Department
Elisabeth Nixon-Peterson
New Mexico
State Education Fellow
Sherry Birchem
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Director, Office of Learning and Instructional Strategies, Ohio Department of Education
Sherry Birchem
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Heather Boughton
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Director, Office of Research, Evaluation & Advanced Analytics, Ohio Department of Education
Heather Boughton
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Eben Dowell
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Senior Research Analyst, Ohio Department of Education
Eben Dowell
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Patricia Nyquist
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Executive Director, Center for Continuous Improvement, Ohio Department of Education
Patricia Nyquist
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Chris Woolard
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Senior Executive Director, Center for Accountability and Continuous Improvement, Ohio Department of Education
Chris Woolard
Ohio
State Education Fellow
Robin Anderson
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Executive Director of Outreach and Professional Learning, Oklahoma State Department of Education
Robin Anderson
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Shelly Ellis
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Executive Director School Support/School Improvement, Oklahoma State Department of Education
Shelly Ellis
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Brook Meiller
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Deputy Superintendent of School Support & Improvement, Oklahoma State Department of Education
Brook Meiller
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Tiffany Neill
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Instruction, Oklahoma State Department of Education
Tiffany Neill
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Levi Patrick
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Assistant Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Title IV, Part A Director, Oklahoma State Department of Education
Levi Patrick
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Michael Tamborski
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Executive Director, Research and Data Quality, Oklahoma Department of Education
Michael Tamborski
Oklahoma
State Education Fellow
Brian Darrow
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Chief of Staff, Office of the Commissioner, Rhode Island Department of Education
Brian Darrow
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Stephanie Enos
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Title I, Education Specialist, Rhode Island Department of Education
Stephanie Enos
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
David Luther
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Administrator, Federal Budget, Rhode Island Department of Education
David Luther
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Andrew Milligan
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Transformation Specialist, Rhode Island Department of Education
Andrew Milligan
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Steve Osborn
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Chief for Innovation, Rhode Island Department of Education
Steve Osborn
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Krystafer Redden
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Division Chief of Staff for System Transformation, Rhode Island Department of Education
Krystafer Redden
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Peg Votta
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow
Research Specialist, Office of Data and Technology Services, Rhode Island Department of Education
Peg Votta
Rhode Island
State Education Fellow