Our Champions


State Education Fellows

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

Gina Cordero-Rahman

Texas

State Education Fellow

Director of Performance Data Analytics, Texas Education Agency

Gina Cordero-Rahman

Texas

State Education Fellow

Megha Kansra

Texas

State Education Fellow

Associate Commissioner of Department of District Planning & Supports, Texas Education Agency

Megha Kansra

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

Laura Encalade

Tennessee

State Education Fellow

Chief of Staff, Commissioner’s Office, Tennessee Department of Education

Laura Encalade

Tennessee

State Education Fellow

Nathaniel Schwartz

Tennessee

State Education Fellow

Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Data and Research, Tennessee Department of Education

Nathaniel Schwartz

Tennessee

State Education Fellow