Insights that deepen understanding and guide thoughtful action.
Research, Evaluation & Insights
The examples below offer a representative view of my research, evaluation, and applied work. While some studies and publications are publicly available, much of this work was conducted under proprietary or confidential agreements and is therefore described at a summary level. Across contexts, this body of work reflects a consistent focus on pattern identification, strategic learning, and evidence-informed decision-making within real-world educational and community systems.
Building Thriving Community
Communities flourish when leadership, philanthropy, and organizational capacity move with shared purpose. I draw on research, evaluation, and on-the-ground leadership practice to guide strategic choices, strengthen leadership pathways, and align investments with communal priorities.
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Framework for Investing in Community-Based Engagement Programs Applied research and synthesis | Qualitative | 2023
Developed a framework to guide investment in community-building programs engaging participants with complex and contested communal and political issues. Drawing on literature review, document analysis, and interviews with program providers and facilitators, the framework identifies core principles and design elements that funders and organizations can use to assess program quality, align investments with intended outcomes, and support strategic learning.Global Study of Jewish Day School Student Experience and Outcomes Research study | Quantitative | 2023
Led a multi-country study examining Jewish day school students’ experiences, attitudes, competencies, and intended behaviors. Survey data from approximately 1,900 students supported sector-level learning about how sustained investment in day school education shapes engagement, identity development, and long-term community connection.Evaluation of Programs for Displaced Ukrainian Families Program evaulation | Quantitative | 2022
Examined community-funded, informal educational programs designed to support displaced Ukrainian children and their families. Survey data focused on participants’ sense of safety, belonging, and perceived readiness for longer-term community integration during periods of crisis and transition.Strategy Development, Implementation, and Investment in Community-Based Education Initiatives Leadership and system implementation | 2010–2018
Led donor, board, and stakeholder committees to design and implement community-strengthening education strategies. Guided communal funding and grantmaking using research, local evaluation insights, and community-driven priorities, establishing systems to support monitoring, shared learning, and alignment with long-term community goals.
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Jewish Leadership in the UK for the 21st Century: Values, Relationships, and Intergenerational Renewal Strategic research study | Qualitative | 2023 | Publicly available
A theory-informed study mapping the UK Jewish leadership ecosystem and examining how values, relationships, and life-course experiences shape leadership development, retention, and intergenerational renewal, informing organizational and communal strategic planning.
(Primary author and lead researcher; link to full report)Community Impact of Orthodox Religious Leaders Impact-focused evaluation | Qualitative | 2023
Explored the organizational and communal impact of individuals serving in Orthodox religious leadership roles. Interviews with leaders and stakeholders examined leadership practice, relationship-building, and institutional context, informing learning related to leadership development and long-term field building.
Evaluation of a National Youth Civic Engagement Fellowship Program evaluation | Mixed methods | 2023
Assessed a national fellowship focused on teen civic engagement, leadership development, and social justice education. Drawing on interviews, surveys, and descriptive and inferential quantitative analysis, including effect size estimation, the evaluation supported reporting to funders while informing strategic learning related to program effectiveness, scalability, and future iterations.Training Future Leaders to Foster Long-Term Community Engagement Leadership and system implementation | 2010–2018
Supported learning experiences for emerging communal leaders and educators, integrating participatory approaches, critical thinking, collaboration, and communal responsibility to strengthen leadership capacity and sustained community engagement.
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Evaluation of Programs Supporting Complex Engagement With Israel Program evaluation | Qualitative | 2023
Examined educational programs designed to support sustained engagement, dialogue, and relationship-building around diverse perspectives on Israel. Findings informed funder learning and internal understanding of how program design supports long-term engagement.Evaluation of a Pilot High School Program Addressing Israeli–Palestinian Conflict and Complex Narratives Program evaluation | Field observations | 2023
Contributed structured field observations examining how a pilot high school program engaged students with conflict, identity, and narrative complexity. Observations documented facilitation approaches, student engagement, and group dynamics, informing internal learning about implementation and participant experience.Evaluation of Teen Jewish–Arab Educational Encounters Programs Program evaluation | Field observations | 2022
Contributed field observations to evaluations of pilot Jewish–Arab educational encounter programs. Observations focused on facilitation practices, participant interactions, and program flow, supporting internal analysis of implementation dynamics and engagement.
Fostering Long-Term Community Engagement Across Generations Leadership and systems implementation | 2010-2018
Led initiatives strengthening meaningful engagement across generations, emphasizing relationship-building, participation pathways, and long-term belonging within community-based educational settings.
Strengthening Education Systems
Educational systems advance when teaching, leadership, and organizational structures reinforce one another. I work with schools, program providers, and networks to apply research, evaluation, and applied practice in ways that deepen instructional quality, strengthen workforce development, and support coherent, system-wide strategy.
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Evaluation of the Building Stronger & More Inclusive Pathways to Mathematics Education (BSMIPME) Initiative Impact evaluation | Outcomes Harvest | 2025 | Publicly available
An outcomes-focused evaluation documenting early contributions of the Delaware Mathematics Coalition’s statewide initiative aimed at strengthening and diversifying the mathematics teacher pipeline through high school pathways, educator leadership, and cross-system alignment. (Link forthcoming)Women’s Leadership Pathways in Orthodox Jewish Day Schools Applied research study | Qualitative | 2024
Examined organizational, cultural, and structural factors shaping women’s leadership pathways and advancement into senior roles within Orthodox Jewish day schools.Evaluation of a Fellowship Supporting New Classroom Educators Program evaluation | Mixed methods | 2022
Examined mentorship structures, cohort learning, and participant experiences within a fellowship supporting early-career educators transitioning into classroom teaching roles.Make for Yourself a Mentor: The Importance of Educating Educators Practitioner article | Reflective dialogue | 2021 | Publicly available
Explored mentorship, professional learning, and instructional leadership through classroom practice and field-wide reflection. (Link)
Developing Preservice Teachers Adjunct professor | 2019-2022
Designed and taught graduate-level coursework preparing preservice educators to enter classroom teaching, with attention to instructional practice, professional identity, and reflective pedagogy.
Director of Professional Development Leadership and strategic implemenation |2010-2018
Led the design and implementation of a professional learning and educator support system focused on educator recruitment, retention, and growth. Oversaw individualized development pathways, instructional coaching, and cohort-based learning communities, integrating research-informed practices to strengthen instructional quality and support career advancement.
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Perceptions of U.S. School District Leaders Implementing Learner- or Problem-Centered Educational Initiatives Doctoral dissertation | Qualitative | 2022 | Publicly available
Examined how district leaders make sense of and enact learner- or problem-centered initiatives, focusing on ideology, decision-making processes, and access to socially embedded resources shaping system-level implementation. (Link)Lessons from Public School: The Need for Socially Driven Innovation Practitioner article | Applied analysis | 2019 | Publicly available
Translated research on educational innovation and social capital into actionable insights for Jewish day school leaders, highlighting professional learning communities, shared decision-making, and relational leadership. (Link)
System-Wide Instructional Innovation Initiatives Leadership and system implementation | 2010-2018
Led system-wide efforts integrating blended learning, project-based learning, and instructional innovation across K–12 settings, supporting sustainability within existing school structures.Building a Data-Informed Culture for Personalized Learning Leadership and system implementation | 2010–2018
Led development of data-informed instructional practices across a school network, integrating adaptive tools and analytics to support personalization and continuous improvement.Curriculum Alignment With Standards and Accountability Leadership and system implementation | 2010–2018
Guided system-wide curriculum alignment with standards and accountability measures while maintaining flexibility to meet diverse learning needs.
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Hebrew Literacy for Students with Language-Based Learning Difficulties: Leadership Perceptions and Decision-Making Applied research study | Qualitative | 2024
Explored how school leaders navigate instructional, organizational, and ideological decisions related to Hebrew literacy as a second language for students with language-based learning difficulties. Interviews with leaders, instructional specialists, and field experts illuminated patterns in decision-making, capacity building, and the adaptation of evidence-informed literacy frameworks.Multi-Year Evaluation of a Whole-School Hebrew Professional Development Initatives Program evaluation | Mixed Methods | 2023
Evaluated a professional learning initiative focused on improving second-language teaching and learning across a several schools. Examined faculty development, curriculum adaptation, and the use of data-informed instructional practices to support instructional coherence and improvement.Family & Professional Guidance Applied advisory practice | 2018-present
Providing guidance to families and professionals navigating second-language learning, literacy development, and neurodevelopmental considerations. This work draws on research, evaluation findings, and system-level knowledge to support informed, context-sensitive decision-making.
System-wide Professional Development for Second Language Teachers Leadership and strategic implementation | 2010-2018
Directed system-wide professional development efforts supporting second-language instruction, instructional alignment, and coherence across school settings.
Supporting Students With Language-Based Learning Differences Administrator and classroom teacher | Applied practice | 2008-2010
Supported students with complex language-based learning differences. Worked with educators to integrate research-informed practices, ongoing assessment, and bilingual literacy instruction.