COLLABORATIVE R&D
Dixie Knight, M.B.A.
Project Director
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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."
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Kathryn Bangert O’Dell, M.A.
Senior Project Manager, Technical Assistance
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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".
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Queta Nicholas, M.B.A.
Business Analyst
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Queta Nicholas has dedicated 20 years to market research in both the United States and Mexico. She has been a key player as both an in-house corporate resource as well as a consultant for top-level multinational companies. Having served as both supplier and client, she has developed a keen understanding of the many uses and applications of marketing research in strategic, actionable contexts. A native of Mexico, Nicholas worked as a researcher there for 12 years, including five years as a partner in a consulting research firm. She specialized in quantitative analysis and conducted research studies for organizations in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America.
Since coming to the U.S., Nicholas has held market research positions with various marketing and advertising companies. In 2000, she entered the field of educational market research when she joined Harcourt Assessment, Inc., where she held various positions, including project director for educational product development, and market research manager. This combination of experience provides Nicholas with an in-depth knowledge of the educational product cycle and market needs, plus an understanding of how to apply this knowledge to strategic decision-making.
Nicholas holds both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a postgraduate degree in marketing from Universidad Tecnológica de México in Mexico City.
My Viewpoint
"Market Research is fun. It is like having a different puzzle to put together for each project. You receive all the different pieces and you work to complete a magnificent puzzle. It is also challenging as the puzzles are constantly changing, making it very exciting. The most gratifying part of my job is the feeling that every time a puzzle is solved, something or someone gets a great benefit from it. We provide a solid platform of information on which our customers can base their strategies and make the most accurate and effective business decisions. "
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Hector Carrillo
Business Analyst/Technical Lead
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As Business Analyst/Technical Lead, Hector Carrillo is responsible for providing management, administration and leadership to IT projects. Carrillo has over ten years experience leading technology projects including online test delivery systems, sourcing applications, and computer based learning software for such companies as Integrated Data Control, Harcourt Assessment and PCI Educational Publishing.
Carrillo served three years on the board of the San Antonio Marketing Association
as Vice President of Technology. He led the efforts of redesigning the website and
added e-commerce functionality to the various events hosted by the organization.
Carrillo held the position of adjunct professor at ITT Technical Institute where
he led classes in multimedia, graphics design and IT. Carrillo has been a guest
lecturer at his alma mater, St. Mary’s University and more recently a guest-lecturer
at Our Lady of the Lake University.
Carrillo holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Communication with an emphasis in
Business from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
My Viewpoint
"Technology is only as good as the people behind it. Understanding the challenges
schools face with technology provides the opportunity to help educators understand
and apply technology to improve student achievement."
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Phillip Rockefeller
Senior Business Analyst
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Philip Rockefeller comes to Edvance Research with vast experience in business analysis. As Senior Business Analyst, Rockefeller is working with the districts to provide quality data for the Statewide Tools for Teaching Excellence (STTE) project, funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, working with the districts data managers and by assisting in the creation of the data standards. Philip’s ongoing role will be to work with the districts in implementing an ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) system that will enable districts to automate the data load process. This system is also the first start in a data warehouse process which will allow school districts to develop an internal, efficient, and functional reporting system.
Prior to joining Edvance, Rockefeller worked as a Senior Business Analyst with Pearson (formerly Harcourt Assessment). Philip is an expert with various Business Intelligence tools including Cognos, Targit, and Crystal Reports. He has an extensive career having worked in various project management, technical, consulting, sales and marketing, and operations roles with companies such as Provident Bank, Fechheimer Brothers Co., John Morrell & Co., and PurchaseLink Systems, Premier Marketing and Kmart.
Philip received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina. He also participated in a Master of Computer Science Program at the University of Cincinnati.
My Viewpoint
"Support for education is not only an investment in our children, but also in our community and society in general."
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Stacy Daugherty, Ph.D.
Development Manager
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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."
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