COLLABORATIVE R&D
Dixie Knight, M.B.A.
Project Director
more
At Edvance Research, Dixie Knight serves as Project Director. In this role she is responsible for managing and ensuring the success of the Statewide Tools for Teaching Excellence (STTE) project, funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
Knight was previously an account manager with a networking solutions integrator,
specializing in providing networking, unified communications and videoconferencing
solutions to K-12 and Higher Education clients. She has been very involved in the
federal E-rate program since its inception, most recently as a service provider
and previously as an applicant and program trainer.
Knight also served as Director of Instructional Technology for Education Service
Center, Region 20 where she provided leadership for the development and delivery
of services related to educational technology, distance learning and online learning
resources. She led a statewide initiative to develop a comprehensive collection
of current, relevant online resources to supplement and enhance K-12 instruction
and digital literacy. She also assisted district leaders in the development, implementation
and review of strategic technology plans. As a regional leader in the field of instructional
technology, she served on the state’s Technology Task Force, providing guidance
for the ongoing implementation of the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology. She
also served over 7 years as a district Technology Director for a rural school district
in Southwest Texas where she implemented and managed the district’s first data and
video network. As one of the founders of the first K-12 videoconferencing consortiums
in Texas, she experienced first-hand the evolution of distance and online learning
technologies and their potential for enabling schools, regardless of location or
size, to offer first class education to all students.
Knight holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Baylor University and
a Master’s of Business Administration in the Management of Technology from the University
of Texas at San Antonio. She also holds a Texas teaching certificate in Special
Education.
My Viewpoint
"Our youth are our country’s most important asset and deserve the best education
we can provide. As a member of the educational community, I am committed to helping
schools identify solutions to increase student academic achievement. I am optimistic
that the work we are doing now will bring about a significant and much needed transformation
in our educational system in the coming decade."
Back to Top
Kathryn Bangert O’Dell, M.A.
Development Specialist II
more
As senior project manager for the Technical Assistance program, Kathryn O’Dell provides
research-based technical assistance services. In this capacity O’Dell works with
school districts and state departments of education to identify research needs,
conducts initial research evaluation, and assists with initial research responses.
Prior to joining Edvance Research, O’Dell worked
for the California School Information Services (CSIS) Program in the Requirements
Management Department, where she was responsible for managing the implementation
of student electronic records transfer projects within K-12 agencies, and between
K-12 and postsecondary
institutions.
O’Dell has worked on a variety of K–16 student and teacher performance data projects
at all levels, including classroom, school, district, county, postsecondary and
state levels. She has used multiple data collection methods and has performed both
qualitative and quantitative data analyses using statistical software packages such
as SPSS and SAS.
Based on her range of experience, O’Dell is often invited to facilitate at state
and national meetings to recommend ways to improve student and institution level
data collection methodologies and to present ways for translating data into information.
O’Dell is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). She holds a
master’s degree in psychology from California State University at Bakersfield, and
bachelor’s degrees in both psychology and sociology from California State University
at Fullerton.
My Viewpoint
"We want to be responsible corporate citizens in our local community and the
education industry. Seeking to be Best Practices driven in processes and practices,
we strive to hold ourselves to the highest standard of integrity and in quality
of work".
Back to Top
Stacy Daugherty, Ph.D.
Development Manager
more
At Edvance Research, Dr. Daugherty serves as Development Manager in the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation’s Statewide Tools for Teaching Excellence (STTE) project. She helps manage the activities necessary for the successful completion of the project including the development of research and software applications, professional development programs, workshops and institutes, and proposals.
Dr. Daugherty joined Edvance Research from the Texas public school system. She taught high school mathematics before becoming the Director of Assessment and Evaluation and later the Director of Instructional Measurement and Accountability at Galena Park ISD. Her experience as a district testing coordinator, school district administrator and classroom teacher help her understand firsthand how data can be used to inform decisions and have a direct impact on student achievement. She also has been very involved in providing professional development activities on understanding school accountability systems, the Texas testing program, data interpretation and standards setting.
She is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), American Educational Research Association (AERA), and is currently the President Elect and Evaluation specialist for the Texas Statewide Network of Assessment Professionals (TSNAP).
Dr. Daugherty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Baylor University, a Master’s degree in Education (Mathematics Curriculum) and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology, both of which she earned from the University of Houston. She holds Texas teaching certificates in secondary mathematics and history.
My Viewpoint
"I believe current and longitudinal data are the most powerful evidence we have that a set of events will occur. As an educator and researcher, I feel it is my duty to help in the interpretation of this data, so the best and most informed decision can be made in the quest to help all students achieve success."
Back to Top