Strategic Data Project Convening 2026: Full Schedule

10:45am EDT

Creating a Data Warehouse that Inspires Educators to Act

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT

Session Description: The promise of a data warehouse is realized when schools trust and rely on it to support students in real-time. Learn how continuous improvement and collaboration with educators led to a system used daily in schools across the district. Attendees will examine high impact reports, see how innovative data are transforming practice, and leave with strategies to increase adoption and improve reporting immediately in their own contexts. Ideal for data, school, and district teams.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; Data analysts or independent researchers; State education agencies; Service providers; Managers of data or technology teams; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Speakers

Bob Balfanz

Professor, Johns Hopkins university

JT Stark

Data Leader, Washoe County Schools

Laura Davidson

Director of Research and Evaluation, Washoe County School District

SDP Convening2026 Creating a Data Warehouse that Inspires Educators to Act pptx

WCSD DataScopeAndSequence pdf

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Harvard Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject K12, Tools, Analysis

10:45am EDT

Making Data Interactive with R Shiny: A Teacher Workforce Planning Example

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT

Remington, 2nd Floor

Session Description:

Education leaders often need to turn complex data into clear, usable tools for planning and decision-making. In this hands-on session, participants will use a teacher workforce planning example to learn how R Shiny apps are structured and how interactive features are built. The session will introduce the roles of global.R, ui.R, and server.R, then guide participants through simple edits that change the app layout, connect outputs to server logic, and add user controls that update what the app displays.

Participants will leave with a fully functional Shiny app template based on the Teacher Workforce Planning Tool being used at the Delaware Department of Education, available through GitHub: https://github.com/MatthewFaiello/twpt_shiny_app_toy

Intended Audience:
This session is designed for SEA, LEA, charter, and education nonprofit staff who work with data or decision-support tools, including analysts, program managers, data and technology leaders, and senior leaders who want a practical introduction to interactive data applications.

This session assumes participants have an understanding of R syntax and basic data manipulation and visualization skills.

Speakers

Matt Faiello

Associate Data Scientist, Delaware Department of Education

Matt Faiello is an Associate Data Scientist at the University of Delaware’s Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, where he supports the Delaware Department of Education’s statewide analyses and the development of practical decision-support tools. He was a Cohort... Read More →

Convening 2026 (External) pdf

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Remington, 2nd Floor

Concurrent Session

Subject Tools, Analysis, K12, Teachers, Stakeholders

10:45am EDT

The Power of Less: Achieving Coherence Through Subtractive Design

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT

Inman Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Education leaders often default to "additive bias," layering initiatives until systems become cluttered and ineffective. This interactive session reorients leaders toward achieving coherence through strategic subtraction. Drawing on Leidy Klotz’s research, participants will audit their agencies for "zombie programs" and redundant processes using a practical "Proving and Improving" laboratory. Attendees will leave with a roadmap to reduce initiative fatigue, reallocate resources, and create space for high-impact practices to flourish.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; State education agencies; Philanthropies and Foundations; Data analysts or independent researchers; Managers of data or technology teams; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors); Nonprofit organizations; Service providers

Speakers

Sean Berkstresser

Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Tulsa Public Schools

Sean Berkstresser is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for Tulsa Public Schools, where he oversees the monitoring and execution of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing district performance and student outcomes. He was appointed to the role in 2024.

Berkstresser leads a team dedicated to continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, strategic planning, and charter school authorization. In this role, he aligns organizational strategy with district goals and collaborates closely with senior leadership and cross-functional... Read More →

Akisha Osei Sarfo

Director of Research, Council of the Great City Schools

Akisha Osei Sarfo, Ph.D. is the Director of Research for the Council of Great City Schools (CGCS). The Council supports and advocates for the nation's largest 82 districts including over 7 million children. In her role, she helps guide and develop the work of research directors across... Read More →

Bo Yan

Chief of Accountability, Assessment & Strategy, South Bend Community School Corporation

SDP Subtraction The Power of Less 2026.pptx pdf

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Inman Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject K12, Tools, Analysis

10:45am EDT

When Data Systems Are Asked to Do More Than They Were Built For: Lessons from Emergency Response

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT

Central Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Large public data systems are often built for accountability, then later expected to support urgent, human-centered decisions they were never designed for. This session examines what it actually takes to repurpose administrative data responsibly, using work from the California Community Colleges in response to the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires as a case study. Participants will explore why meaningful analytic insights often emerge after moments of crisis, and how putting processes in place ahead of time can make data more actionable, ethical, and useful when systems are under stress.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; State education agencies; Institutions of higher education; Data analysts or independent researchers; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Speakers

Christopher Ozuna

CA Community Colleges Chancellor's Office

I’m interested in understanding how schools and communities interact with each other, how we can accurately measure these interactions and how we can apply our findings in ways that make schools more equitable in order to deliver on the promise of public education in America.

SDP2026 SessionWorksheet pdf

Ozuna SDP2026 LessonsFrom EmergencyResponse public pptx

Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Central Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject Postsecondary/Higher Ed, Analysis

1:15pm EDT

From Proof to Practice: Using District Data Partnerships to Improve Summer Learning in Boston Public Schools

Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

Porter Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Summer programs offer powerful opportunities to close learning gaps and expand access to enriching experiences, yet districts often struggle to align program goals, outcomes, and evaluation in ways that support improvement. This session shares how Boston Public Schools built a cross-department data partnership to use formative assessment data and comparison groups to understand summer program impact, equity, and implementation. District leaders, analysts, and program practitioners interested in continuous improvement are encouraged to attend.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; Data analysts or independent researchers; Nonprofit organizations

Speakers

Nicole Reddig

Research & Partnerships Analyst, Boston Public Schools

Meg Caven

Director of Organizational Insight, Boston Public Schools

I lead the team that conducts internal research and evaluation within the district, and partners with external researchers.

Magaly Sanchez

David Martinez

BPS at SDP Convening 2026 pptx

Public Version Summer Learning Impact pdf

Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Porter Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject K12, Equity, Analysis

1:15pm EDT

Leveraging Participatory Action Research (PAR) to Engender Trust

Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

Central Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: What happens when Early Childhood Educators drive research and data analysis about the sector? This session explores a Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Policy model developed for Black and Latine women in ECE. Based on the report "Participatory Action Research and Policy Change" we will explore model design, impact on worker agency, and strategies for successful implementation. System and policy leaders will gain insights into how to implement PAR to improve listening, empathy, and trust.

Intended Audience: Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors); Philanthropies and Foundations; Nonprofit organizations

Speakers

Rhonda Broussard

Founder & CEO, Beloved Community

Rhonda J. Broussard is an author, entrepreneur, and futurist. She is the Founder & CEO of Beloved Community and Awa by Beloved, PBC. She developed Beloved Community to create sustainable paths to regional racial and economic equity. Rhonda has been recognized as a Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French Ministry of Culture, is a Highland Leader, a Tulane Mellon Fellow, a Pahara-Aspen... Read More →

Leveraging PAR to Engender Trust 2026.pptx pdf

Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Central Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject Early Childhood, Analysis, Stakeholders

10:45am EDT

Instructional Coherence for Literacy: Knox County Randomized Control Trial Demonstrates Stronger Growth, Better Alignment, and Teacher Support

Thursday May 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT

Remington, 2nd Floor

Session Description: Instructional coherence is the emerging practice of aligning all aspects of learning to reduce “instructional code-switching” between varying procedures, approaches, and curriculum. In this session, we will share learnings from a district pilot and randomized control trail on implementing instructional coherence for early literacy. Those interested in supporting student literacy, innovative models for supporting student learning interventions, and advancing how to leverage formal and informal student data to meet student needs should attend this session.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; State education agencies; Service providers

Speakers

Erin Phillips

Executive Director of Learning and Literacy, Knox County Schools

Courtney Bell

Vice President of Research and Innovation, The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE)

Courtney leads SCORE’s strategic practice portfolio, which focuses on piloting research-based approaches to improving student outcomes and working to spread and scale those effective practices across Tennessee. Additionally, she leads SCORE’s research and data analysis efforts... Read More →

May 2026 SDP Presentation pdf

Thursday May 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Remington, 2nd Floor

Concurrent Session

Subject Early Childhood, Analysis, K12

10:45am EDT

Proof in Practice: Building Trustworthy Data Systems with Google Tools

Thursday May 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT

Inman Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Schools and districts are always searching for ways to streamline data collection and help generate proof points. And while the vast majority of organizations are using the Google Suite, most are using it for its basic functionality and not tapping into its full potential. This session will highlight various tools built in the Google Suite and inspire school/district leaders to think about how to leverage the Google Suite to improve their own orgs.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; Nonprofit organizations; Data analysts or independent researchers; Managers of data or technology teams; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Speakers

Chris Cutrona

Edsightful, LLC

I create custom solutions in the Google Suite to help schools and districts better understand the impact of their programs. I am formerly a Cohort 7 SDP Fellow!

SDP Convening Presentation 05.14.26 pdf

Thursday May 14, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Inman Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject K12, Analysis, Tools

1:15pm EDT

(Networking) Generative AI in Education Data: Peer-to-Peer and Cross-Role Networking and Collaboration

Thursday May 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

Harvard Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Generative AI is reshaping the education data landscape, yet many professionals approach it without collaboration across the data community. This session brings together participants in similar roles and in cross-role conversations to discuss AI adoption and use, deepening shared understanding of successes, challenges, and needs. Whether you are new to AI or an expert, the session offers space to exchange experiences, learn from peers, and build connections that support effective and responsible AI use.

Intended Audience: Managers of data or technology teams; Data analysts or independent researchers; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Speakers

Stephen Fedore

Founder, K12 Data Partners

Erin Dillon

Vice President of Research, Project Lead The Way

I'm currently the VP of Research at Project Lead The Way, which provides project-based, career-connected, and STEM-focused learning. Previously, I was a researcher at Mathematica and, before that, a Strategic Data Project Fellow with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and... Read More →

Elena Schmidt

Program Evaluation Manager, Apex Evaluation

I am currently the evaluation team lead at Apex Evaluation and have 15 years in various internal and external evaluation and research roles in public education and public health. I have a keen interest in advancing evaluation as a strategic asset for mission-driven organizations... Read More →

Carlos Romero

Executive Producer, Apex Evaluation

I founded Apex Evaluation in Albuquerque, New Mexico 25 years ago. We are a team of systems evaluators working with health, education, and social programs that address the wicked problems of inequity. We ascribe and aspire to Equitable Evaluation (EE) principles and practices, which... Read More →

Holly Karakos

Research Director, Project Lead The Way

I am an applied, mixed-methods researcher with over 10 years of experience in non-profit education organizations. I am a firm believer in the brilliance of young people and the role education can play in nurturing their gifts. I welcome all new connections and conversations, with... Read More →

Convening 2026 Generative AI Networking for upload pptx

Thursday May 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Harvard Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session, Networking Session

Subject Networking, Analysis, Tools

1:15pm EDT

(Networking) Proof in the Periphery: Illuminating Impact from Outside the Research Office

Thursday May 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

Remington, 2nd Floor

Session Description: Many data practitioners serve as the sole data voice within functional departments or small organizations where they must navigate cultures unfamiliar with rigorous evidence. This session brings these lone strategists together to swap strategies for establishing trust, managing workflows, and avoiding duplicative silos. Data strategists in LEAs/SEAs in HR, Finance, Safety, Federal Programs, etc.—and anyone serving as a "team of one"—are encouraged to attend and find their people.

Intended Audience: Data analysts or independent researchers; Districts, charters or other local education agencies; Philanthropies and Foundations

Speakers

Emily Gell

Federal Programs Data Strategist, Atlanta Public Schools

As a data strategist and program evaluator with a background in education policy, I specialize in translating complex data into actionable insights that drive equity-focused decision-making in public education.

With a Master of Public Affairs from Brown University and experience at both the school district and research levels, I lead evaluations of federally funded initiatives, design systems for continuous improvement, and collaborate with leadership teams to ensure strategies are evidence-based... Read More →

Proof in the Periphery Illuminating Impact from Outside the Research Office pptx

Proof in the Periphery Notecatcher docx

Thursday May 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Remington, 2nd Floor

Concurrent Session, Networking Session

Subject Networking, Stakeholders, Analysis, P20W

2:45pm EDT

Building Smart Systems for Better Schools: Automation, ML and LLMs to Support Student Success

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Porter Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: This session demonstrates how to automate data pipelines to support advanced analysis and decision making. We highlight a predictive model from Metro Nashville Public Schools identifying 3rd-grade retention risks a year early to trigger proactive interventions and midyear implementation reports from AmplifyLearn.AI for a dozen public school districts on the implementation of the Colleague AI platform. This session will show how even small teams can create reports that dynamically update with new data.

Intended Audience: Data analysts or independent researchers; Managers of data or technology teams; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Speakers

Arthur Cunningham

Assessment Coordinator | Strategic Data Project Fellow, Metro Nashville Public Schools

Lief Esbenshade

University of Washington, AmplifyLearn.AI Center

At the AmplifyLearn.AI center I coordinate and conduct research on applied AI/ML for K-12 math and science education. This includes our ISEA data science training program, national surveys of teachers about the use of AI, and the development of the Colleague AI platform.

Colleague AI is a comprehensive AI platform for K–12 education that supports instruction, learning, school operations, and administration... Read More →

smart systems final pdf

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Porter Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject Analysis, Tools, Policy Innovation

2:45pm EDT

From Logs to Learning: How a Data Standard Improves High-Dosage Tutoring

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Central Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Knowing whether educational improvement efforts are yielding improved student outcomes often depends on information outside state longitudinal systems. From Logs to Learning shows how a data standard for tutoring creates shared definitions that enable transparency, comparability, faster feedback loops, and high-quality continuous improvement. We will share an open tutoring data standard and toolkit, then present a case study with Florida Tutoring Advantage, Littera, and Accelerate demonstrating earlier-cycle monitoring, cross-district benchmarking, and implementation refinement.

Intended Audience: State education agencies; Districts, charters or other local education agencies; Service providers

Speakers

Shaunté Duggins

Director & Research Scientist, State Initiatives, University of Florida

Shaunté Duggins serves as Director of State Initiatives and Research Scientist at the Lastinger Center, leading the New Worlds Reading Initiative and the Florida Tutoring Advantage.

In her previous role as Associate Director for New Worlds Reading, Shaunté led the implementation of this statewide book delivery program since its establishment in 2021. Prior to New Worlds Reading, Shaunté was senior manager of literacy initiatives. In this role, she facilitated... Read More →

Sarah Glover

Board Member, Littera

Sarah currently serves on the board of Littera Education where she is helping them grow Lumen, Littera's tutor management system. Sarah also supports the National Tutoring Observatory at Cornell and serves as a management and leadership coach.

Sarah co-founded the Outcomes Based Contracting initiative, incubating it at CEPR and expanding it at the Southern Education Foundation. Before that, she was a founding executive leadership team member at Panorama Education where she led the Client Success team, growing it to a team... Read More →

Jason Godfrey

Director of Data Science, Accelerate

Logs to Learning SDP Convening 2026.pptx pdf

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Central Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject K12, Tools, Analysis

2:45pm EDT

New Tools for Working Across Education Datasets for Interoperability at Scale

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Kendall Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Education data systems are abundant yet fragmented, unstable, and difficult to reuse for
strategic decision-making. This session offers two solutions to address these challenges. First, we present a FAIR-aligned framework and practical tools for mapping, stabilizing and reusing education data from a cross-state study of 3,822 public K-12 datasets. Then we present findings from an empirical study of AI-produced mappings across higher education data sources to show which AI models provide the best balance between performance and cost. Together the session provides an interoperable way to work with K-12 datasets and a means to scale the mapping of education data.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; Managers of data or technology teams; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Speakers

Alex Bowers

Professor of Education Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University

Tara Chiatovich

Tara Chiatovich has worked as a research and data scientist for more than a decade across industry, academia, public education, and the non-profit sector. Her projects have spanned getting AI into products, extracting insights from national education datasets, leading webinars, and... Read More →

20260514 Bowers SDP pdf

DataKind Strategic Data Project 2026 pptx

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Kendall Square, Lobby Level

Concurrent Session

Subject Technology, K12, Tools, Analysis

2:45pm EDT

Proving and Improving in Low-Maturity Data Environments

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Harvard Square, Lobby Level

Session Description: Fast-growing public-sector and nonprofit organizations often need data insights before their systems are ready. This session shares how our team developed a sprint-based Data Strategy Delivery System to deliver useful dashboards, tools, and data products while still supporting a long-term data strategy. Data practitioners and leaders, especially those working in low-maturity data environments, will leave with concrete approaches for turning fragmented data into actionable insight.

Intended Audience: Nonprofit organizations; Managers of data or technology teams; Data analysts or independent researchers

Speakers