High-quality information is key to making informed decisions on how to better support students and families. Schay Esparza, assistant director of data and evaluation services, and Alexis Burnett, research analyst, bring deep experience in K-12 and higher education and a people-first approach to their work leading data projects for our agency and our regional school districts. Schay and Alexis have been instrumental in creating and launching the Clackamas Data Project, which offers a menu of data-related services to our partner districts.
The Clackamas Data Project offers districts data collection, analysis and continuous improvement services that align with the application requirements for six grant programs managed by the Oregon Department of Education and other educational initiatives.
“My greatest joy in the work is when I get to sit down with a group that’s working on a problem, we’re looking at the data, and there’s a moment where it clicks; there’s a pathway forward that’s visible in the data,” Schay says.
As part of their Clackamas Data Project work, Schay and Alexis collaborate with districts to help them successfully engage with and listen to groups and individuals districts aren’t hearing from regularly to focus on improving outcomes for all students.
“I love making students visible through data,” shares Alexis. “I had a district that wasn’t hearing from Spanish speakers, so not only did I train their district team on conducting their own focus groups, I also helped them brainstorm what existing meetings these families were attending. We incorporated the focus groups into those meetings, and they started hearing more of their community’s voices.”
By synthesizing the data from districts’ community engagement efforts, Schay and Alexis create equity briefs that highlight “opportunity gaps” among different student focus groups, and needs assessments that evaluate if programs and curriculum are having the intended impact.
“Too often people think of data in terms of numbers and aggregates of numbers,” says Clackamas ESD Board of Directors Vice Chair Linda Brown. “Schay and Alexis are so person-centered.”
