The evaluation partners were identified and selected from among a competitive pool of consultants who submitted proposals in response to the Request for Proposals LMSD issued in September 2019.
The Improve Group is a woman-owned, full-service evaluation, research, and strategic planning consulting firm based in St. Paul, Minnesota. IG is committed to helping local, national, and international organizations make the most of information, navigate complexity, and ensure their investments lead to meaningful, sustained impact. That commitment is connected to IG’s vision, which is that mission-driven organizations will effectively develop more resilient, equitable, and thriving communities.
The team members who contributed to this evaluation were:
Jill Lipski Cain, M.P.P., Managing Consultant (project lead)
Stacy Rassel, Ph.D., Director of Consulting
Brita Blesi, M.A., Senior Consultant
Russell Barnes, B.A., Associate Consultant
Jim Nord, B.A., Associate Writer
WestEd is an educational research, development, and service organization with 600 employees and 17 offices nationwide. WestEd has been a leader in moving research into practice by conducting research and development programs, projects, and evaluations; by providing training and technical assistance; and by working with policymakers and practitioners at state and local levels to carry out large-scale school improvement and innovative change efforts. WestEd addresses its mission—to work with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults—through a full range of projects.
The team members who contributed to this evaluation were:
(Formerly of WestEd) Cecelia Dodge, M.A., Project Director (project lead)
Katherine Bradley-Black, Ph.D., Senior Consultant