PROJECT STAFF

Elise Arruda, research and evaluation specialist, has previous experience working for the Los Angeles Unified School District on various district improvement projects. Dr. Arruda contributes to the research and evaluation components of the CSR Support and Capacity Building program including design, methodological, and statistical aspects. She has five years experience conducting state and district-wide research and evaluation studies comprising both implementation and impact studies. She received her doctorate from Claremont Graduate University in Developmental Psychology with a concentration in evaluation of intervention and prevention programs serving adolescents.

Phyllis Hardy, program planning specialist, provides technical assistance on the topic of educating culturally and linguistically diverse students. Ms. Hardy has over 26 years experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse students in public schools. She draws upon her work as a teacher in standard curriculum, bilingual education, and special education programs as well as her experience with professional development trainings and presentations on topics of bilingual special education, second language development, cultural reciprocity, literacy, and early childhood. Ms. Hardy provides research and technical assistance for all aspects of the CSR Support and Capacity Building Program, in particular the LEA capacity-building efforts. In addition to her work at the Alliance, Ms. Hardy is a bilingual special educator, assessing culturally and linguistically diverse preschool children referred for special needs evaluations.

Beth-Ann Tek, research associate, has over five years experience in researching, collecting, and analyzing data relating to many different areas and industries (e.g., software taxation, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and education). In addition, she conducts evaluations of educational interventions, with her most recent work looking at the impact of state comprehensive school reform programs on changes in teacher practice and student academic achievement. Ms. Tek provides research and analytical support for all aspects of the CSR Support and Capacity Building Program, in particular the SEA capacity-building efforts.

Chris Unger, program planning specialist, has over twenty years of experience working with teachers on teaching and learning, whole school reform, high school redesign, and district improvement. His focus on the CSR Support and Capacity Building program is the evaluation of districts and their school improvement efforts as well as supporting SEA offices in their self-assessment of school improvement and ELL support practices and policies. Dr. Unger received his doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he directed several projects on teaching and learning as well as organizational development, and has worked in several schools and districts, including Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, as well as several schools and districts throughout New England.

Ivana Zuliani, senior research associate, has over five years experience working with state and district officials on the design and administration of project evaluations, including multi-site evaluations of the CSR program for Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In the CSR Support and Capacity Building Program, Ms. Zuliani is leading our evaluation of the impact of program-specific technical assistance activities. Her background is in project evaluation design, focusing on the development of valid and reliable data collection instruments (e.g., survey items, site visit protocols, focus group protocols and questions) and data analysis. She is currently co-leading the state CSR program evaluations for Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont.