ACEL VIC: Leading with Evidence in Schools: Bridging Research, Data, and Practice for Continuous Imp

How can education leaders and researchers effectively use data and evidence to drive meaningful improvement in PK-12 schools? In this interactive workshop, participants (P-12 school and system leaders) will explore strategies for strengthening evidence-based improvement cycles that bring school system data closer to stakeholder evidence-based improvement goals.
 
Drawing on the Leading with Evidence in Schools framework and best practices in data visualization, this session, facilitated by Alex J. Bowers, Professor of Education Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University, will provide participants with practical tools to integrate research, real-world evidence, and clear data communication into their decision-making processes.

 

Through a conversation on select research, collaborative exercises, and discussions, attendees will:

• Examine challenges and best practices in using evidence for school and system-wide improvement.
• Explore strategies for aligning research insights with school system data.
• Learn essential data visualization techniques to communicate findings effectively and drive action in school administration as well as research and policy.
• Engage in hands-on activities to develop actionable plans for strengthening data-driven improvement cycles in their own contexts

Designed for both current P-12 leaders and those interested in studying the intersection of P-12 education research and practice, this workshop will foster critical discussions on bridging the gap between academic research and the realities of school and system leadership. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for leveraging evidence and visual storytelling to drive continuous improvement in their schools, districts, and research endeavors. Join us to deepen your expertise in leading with evidence, effectively communicating data, and ensuring research makes a tangible impact in PK-12 education.

Bio: Alex J. Bowers is a Professor of Education Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University, located in New York City, where he works to help school leaders use the data that they already collect in schools in more effective ways to help direct the limited resources of schools and districts to specific student needs. His research focuses on the intersection of effective school and district leadership, organization and HR, data driven decision making, student grades and test scores, student persistence and dropouts. His work also considers the influence of school finance, facilities, and technology on student achievement. Professor Bowers studies these domains through the application of data science, and big data analytics, such as data visualization analytics, multilevel and growth mixture modeling, and cluster analysis heatmap data dashboards. He earned his Ph.D. in K12 Educational Administration from Michigan State University, and previous to teaching and education research, spent a decade as a cancer researcher in the biotechnology industry, with a M.S. in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, and a B.S. in Biochemistry.