Our Teams
Champions for Evidence in Education
The Evidence Advocacy Center (EAC) has 9 teams representing all of the components of the education system and is committed to driving radical transformation of education based on the use of evidence of effectiveness. Dedicated individuals and organizations that share our commitment have come together to work for an educational system that values evidence in educator preparation programs, in in-service education, and in classroom instruction so that all children receive an outstanding education.
Our work teams are the essential core of the Evidence Advocacy Center. They are led by renowned experts in the field of education and policy with the knowledge to recognize what constitutes research and evidence. It is their job to curate research-based resources that will establish the EAC’s “clearinghouse” by linking to and describing resources and putting them into useful menus with clear guidance. Each team’s research-based resources will be:
- Impactful and accessible
- Practical but comprehensive and scalable
- Inclusive and coherent
- Derived from studies, from high-performing educators, and high-performing education systems
Team Leads:
- Dr. Matthew K Burns, University of Florida, Professor College of Education
- Dr. Michelle Hosp, Renaissance Learning, Senior Director of Assessment Innovations; University of Massachusetts Amherst, Adjunct Associate Professor of Special Education
Team Members:
- Kenni Alden, M.Ed., Right to Read Project, Co-Founder
- Ryan Buggy, The Reading League, PD Impact Director
- Dr. Lillian Durán, University of Oregon, Professor College of Education, Special Education
- Dr. Lisa Keller, University of Massachusetts, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Center for Educational Assessment
- Leanne Ketterlin-Geller, Ph.D., Texas Instruments Endowed Chair in Education; Southern Methodist University, Department of Education Policy & Leadership, Professor; Research in Mathematics Education, Director; Crum Commons, Faculty in Residence
- Dr. Steve Kilgus, University of Wisconsin, Educational Psychology
- Dr. Scott McConnell, University of Minnesota, Professor Emeritus; Renaissance Learning, Director of Assessment Innovation
- Dr. Stephanie Stollar, Mount St. Joseph University, Assistant Professor Reading Science
- Dr. Gerald Tindal, University of Oregon, Department Head, Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership
- Kristen Wynn, Mississippi Department of Education, State Literacy Director, Office of Elementary Education and Reading
- Dr. Jason D. Yeatman, Stanford University, Pediatrics, Graduate School of Education, Psychology, Associate Professor
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH/WELLNESS TEAM
Team Lead: Dr. Steve Goodman, Research Specialist, University of Connecticut
Team Members:
- Dr. Jennifer Freeman, Educational Psychology Department, University of Connecticut, Professor
- Dr. Shanna Hirst, Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education University of Maryland, Associate Professor
- Dr. Rob Horner, University of Oregon, Professor, Special Education, Emeritus
- Dr. Brandi Simonsen, Educational Psychology Department, University of Connecticut, Professor
LITERACY TEAM
Team Leads:
- Dr. Ronda Fritz, Eastern Oregon University, Associate Professor, College of Education
- Dr. Stephanie Stollar, Stephanie Stollar Consulting and The Reading Science Academy, Founder
Team Members:
- Mary Bivens, M.Ed., Colorado Department of Education, Executive Director Educator Workforce Development
- Dr. Donald Joseph “DJ” Bolger, University of Maryland, College Park, Associate Professor College of Education
- Dr. Matthew K. Burns, University of Florida, Professor College of Education
- Dr. David P. Hurford, Pittsburg State University/Center for Reading, Executive Director and Professor of Psychology
- Dr. Malt Joshi, Texas A & M, Professor of Literacy Education and Educational Psychology
- Dr. Young-Suk Kim, University of California Irvine, Associate Dean School of Education
- Kari Kurto, M.Ed., The Reading League, National Science of Reading Project Director
- Dr. Ellen McIntyre, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Dean College of Education, Health, Human Sciences
- Dr. Katie Pace Miles, Brooklyn College, CUNY, Associate Professor
- Dr. Heather Peske, NCTQ, President
- Dr. Deborah K. Reed, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Professor and Director Tennessee Reading Research Center
- Dr. Sarah Sayko, National Center on Improving Literacy, Interim Director & Boston University, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, Associate Research Professor
- Dr. Debora Sheffel, Colorado Christian University, Dean School of Education
- Dr. Susan Smartt, Smartt Educational Consulting, President
- Maureen Stover M.Ed., The Path Forward/Hunt Institute, Senior Policy Analyst
- Nathaniel Swain, Senior Lecturer, Learning Sciences, La Trobe University & Founder. Think Forward Educators
- Dr. Rebecca Tolson, University of Akron, Director of the Center for Structured Literacy
- Tracey Weinstein, Deans for Impact, VP of Program
- Dr. Taylar Wenzel, University of Central Florida, Senior Lecturer
MATH TEAM
Team Lead: Dr. Robin Codding, Northeastern University, Dept. of Applied Psychology, Professor and Director PhD & MS/CAGS School Psychology Program
Team Member: Dr. Marcy Stein, University of Washington, Professor Emeritus
Team Leads:
- Dr. Anita Archer, Educational Consultant and Author
- Linda Diamond, M.Ed., C0-Author, Teaching Reading Sourcebook, Executive Director EAC
Team Members:
- Dr. Ronda Fritz, Eastern Oregon University, Associate Professor, College of Education
- Dr. Charles A. Hughes, Emeritus Professor of Special Education, Pennsylvania State University
- Dr. Pam Kastner, Mount Saint Joseph University, Adjunct Professor
- Kari Kurto M.Ed., The Reading League, National Science of Reading Project Director
- Dr. Sarah Oberle, Educator/Consultant, Red Clay Consolidated School District/University of Delaware
- Dr. Kristen Rolf, Utah State University, Assistant Professor
- Dr. Ben Solomon, School of Education University of Albany, Associate Professor Division of School Psychology
- Dr. Kelly Stuart, Center for the Collaborative Classroom, CEO
- Nathaniel Swain, Senior Lecturer, Learning Sciences, La Trobe University & Founder. Think Forward Educators
- Dr. Nancy Young, Author The Ladder of Reading & Writing, Education Consultant
The Instruction menu of evidence-based resources is in the process of being created.
Team Lead:
Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Valley Speech Language and Learning Center, Director
Team Members:
- Dr. Doris Luft Baker, University of Texas Austin College of Education, Associate Professor Special Education and Curriculum and Instruction
- Dr. Jana Echevarria, California State University, Long Beach, Professor Emerita
- George Ellis, Director, California Reading and Literature Project (CRLP); Instructor, UC Berkeley School of Education
- Dr. Brandy Gatlin-Nash, University of California, Irvine, Associate Professor School of Education
- Dr. Claude Goldenberg, Stanford University, Emeritus Professor of Education
- Dr. Julie Washington, University of California, Irvine, Professor School of Education
Team Leads:
- Louise Dechovitz, Illinois Early Literacy Coalition, Co-Founder
- Denise Morgan, Equitable Literacy for All, Co-Founder
Team Members:
- Resha Conroy, Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children, Founder and Director
- Yolie Flores, Families in Schools, CEO/President
- Clarice Jackson, Institute of Black Literacy, Founder/President & CEO
- Kristin Kane, National Center on Improving Literacy, Family Engagement Lead/Deputy Director
- Kate Mayer, Everyone Reads Pennsylvania, Co-Founder
- Joann Mickens, Parents for Public Schools, Inc., Executive Director
- Tarja Parssinen, WNY Education Alliance, Founder
- Missy Purcell, The Science of Reading for Advocates, Co-Founder
- Sonya Thomas, Nashville Propel, Founder
- Brett Tingley, Parents for Reading Justice, Founder
Team Leads:
- Dr. Dale Webster, CORE Learning, President
- Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling, Southern Connecticut State University, Professor Emerita, Department of Special Education
Team Members:
- Margie Gillis, Literacy How, Founder and President
- Margaret Goldberg, Right to Read Project, Co-Founder
- Jessica Hamman, Glean Education, Founder
- Jan Hasbrouck, JH Educational Services/Read Washington, Founder/researcher
- Donna Hejtmanek, Science of Reading-What I Should Have Learned in College, Creator; Retired Reading Specialist; Special Education Educator
- Nathalie Henderson, Teach for America, Executive Vice President
- Leslie Laud, thinkSRSD Director and MGH-IHP WELL Team
- Nicole McKevett, PhD, NCSP, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), University of Minnesota, MTSS Support Specialist
- Maria Murray, The Reading League, President and CEO
- Nancy Nelson, Boston University, Assistant Professor Special Education, Deputy Director National Center on Improving Literacy and Lead for Literacy Center
- Allison Peck, 95 Percent Group, Consultant
- AJ Pettway, Consultant, Open Windows Learning
- Joan Sedita, Keys to Literacy, Founder
- Lori Severino, Ed.D., Credentials Unlimited, Co-Founder; Drexel University, Retired Assistant Professor of Special Education
- Laura Stewart, 95 Percent Group, Chief Academic Office
- Kelly Stuart, Center for the Collaborative Classroom, CEO
- Marisa Ramirez Stukey, Chief Academic Officer, The Reading League
- Amanda VanDerHeyden, SpringMath, Founder, Education Research & Consulting, President
- Barbara A. Wilson, Wilson Language Training, Co-Founder
Team Leads:
- Dr. Nicole Mancini, Council of Great City Schools, Chief of Academics
- Dr. Tracy White, Founder, Upstream Education for All, Inc.
Team Members:
- MaryKate DeSantis, Speech Language (SAIL) Literacy Lab, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Clinical Researcher
- Dr. Terrie Noland, Founder, Be the Spark Consulting
- Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Stockton Unified School District, Superintendent
- Dr. Catherine Scott, Chief Academic Officer, Neuhaus Education Center,
- Dr. Jack P. Silva, Bethlehem Area School District, Superintendent
- Dr. Danielle Thompson, Transformative Reading Teacher Group, Big Sky Literacy Summit, Founder
- Kareem Weaver, M.A., Fulcrum, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Team Leads:
- Dr. Stephanie Al Otaiba, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Southern Methodist University, Professor and Patsy Ray Caldwell Centennial Chair in Teaching and Learning
- Dr. Kelly A. Powell-Smith, Mount St. Joseph University, Professor of Reading Science
Team Members:
- Dr. Greg Benner, University of Alabama
- Dr. Matthew K Burns, University of Florida, Professor College of Education
- Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Valley Speech Language and Learning Center, Director
- Dr. Ben Clarke, University of Oregon College of Education, Department Head, Special Education and Clinical Sciences
- Dr. Robin Codding, Northeastern University, Dept. of Applied Psychology, Professor and Director PhD & MS/CAGS School Psychology Program
- MaryKate DeSantis, Speech Language (SAIL) Literacy Lab, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Clinical Researcher
- Dr. Michael Fagella-Luby, Christian University, Professor of Special Education and Core Faculty of the Alice Neeley Special Education Research and Service (ANSERS) Institute)
- Dr. Scott Goldberg, Founder and Principal, Scott Goldberg, Consulting and Golda Koschitzky Chair in Jewish Education, Azrieli Graduate School, Yeshiva University
- Dr. Robert Horner, University of Oregon, Professor Emeritus, Special Education
- Dr. Michelle Hosp, Renaissance Learning, Director of Foundational Literacy and University of Massachusetts Amherst, Associate Adjunct in Special Education
- Dr. David P. Hurford, Pittsburg State University/Center for Reading, Executive Director and Professor of Psychology
- Carolina Kudesey, University of Alabama, Doctoral Student in Special Education
- Dr. Kent McIntosh, University of Oregon, Professor & Philip H. Knight Chair, Special Education
- Dr. Kristen McMaster, University of Minnesota, Guy Bond Chair in Reading; Co-Program Coordinator, Special Education
- Dr. Brian Poncy, Oklahoma State University, Professor, School Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences
- Kathleen Roberts, Southern Methodist University, Doctoral Student
- Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling, Southern Connecticut State University, Professor Emerita, Special Education)
- Dr. Stephanie Stollar, Reading Science Academy, Founder
- Dr. Brandi Tanner, Your IEP Source, Founder/CEO
- Dr. Jessica Toste, Ph.D., UT Austin, Associate Professor, Special Education
- Dr. Jeanne Wanzek, Vanderbilt University, Professor, Currey-Ingram Endowed Chair, Department of Special Education
- Kristen Wright, M.Ed., Sacramento County Office of Education, Executive Director Equity, Diversity, Early Intervention, Special Services
- Dr. Mitchell Yell, University of South Carolina, Fred and Francis Lester Palmetto Chair in Teacher Education, Special Education
The Special Education menu of evidence-based resources is in the process of being created.
Team Leads
- Dr. Paige Pullen, University of Florida, Research Professor; Pullen Education Strategies, LLC, Owner
- Debora Scheffel, Ph.D., Colorado Christian University School of Education, Dean
- Bonnie Short, M.Ed., Alabama Reading Initiative, Director
Team Members
- Kelly Butler, M.Ed., Mississippi Reads/Reading Universe, and former CEO Barksdale Reading Institute
- Steve Goodman, Ph.D., Research Specialist, University of Connecticut
- Bridgette Greene, Affiliate Faculty CCU, Retired Educator
- Kari Kurto, M.Ed., The Reading League, National Science of Reading Project Director
- Dr. Barbara Ohlund, Iowa Dept. of Ed, Executive Officer of Program Implementation
- Dr. Ben Solomon, School of Education University of Albany, Associate Professor, Division of School Psychology
- Patrick Steck, Deans for Impact, VP of External Affairs
- Maureen Stover, M.Ed., The Path Forward/Hunt Institute, Senior Policy Analyst
- Dr. Carey Wright, Maryland Dept. of Education, State Superintendent