CEES staff have expertise in survey development and
administration, qualitative data collection protocols (e.g.
observational protocols, interviews, etc.), quantitative data
collection and analysis approaches, and evaluation design.
Theresa Westover, PhD, is the Director of the
Center for Education and Evaluation Services (CEES). She
supervises the Center’s evaluation projects and staff and has
over 30 years of experience in evaluation, research methods, and
project management. Her areas of expertise include
evaluation and research design, data collection tool development
(with an emphasis on survey design and administration) and
testing, data analysis, and policy analysis. Dr. Westover
has taught graduate level research methods courses and is
familiar with standard approaches to establishing validity and
reliability of research tools and is well versed in numerous
research and evaluation approaches using both qualitative and
quantitative data. She has conducted a number of
large scale survey research projects and supervises all of the
evaluation studies in CEES.
Amy Smith, PhD, has expertise in special
education, education policy, and program evaluation. She
earned a PhD in Special Education and a Master’s degree in
Education Policy, both from the University of Maryland. Dr.
Smith has experience in advanced statistical methods (e.g.,
hierarchical linear modeling [HLM]). In addition, she has
experience in qualitative research methods including experience
developing and administering surveys, interviews, and focus
groups. Her recent work includes evaluations of professional
development programs throughout the Sacramento area, as well as
work on two statewide evaluations. Dr. Smith also has experience
in research examining the impact of an autism early intervention
program as well as a prospective autism early detection study. In
addition, she worked as a special education teacher at a
non-public high school, and as a teaching assistant in an early
intervention program for young children with autism.
Mary Stump, MA, has more than 15 years of
experience in program management, evaluation, and organizational
development. She has expertise in large scale process evaluation,
qualitative analysis, and survey development, and has coordinated
multi-institutional cross-sector research projects. Ms. Stump has
assisted with the development and implementation of successful
federal and state grant proposals for whole school reform,
randomized controlled studies, and measurement development. She
has an extensive background in education, school-community
relations, and literacy.
Christine Kelly, MS, Christine Kelly, MS, brings
both technical data analysis expertise and research experience to
the team. She has worked in the areas of early childhood, parent
education, and youth development. Ms. Kelly has experience in
evaluation planning and design, survey methodology, conducting
interviews and focus groups, and quantitative data analysis.
Shani Keller, MA Candidate, brings 10 years of
experience as standardized testing coordinator and evaluation
specialist for two large California school districts. Her
expertise includes assessment design and analysis of student
achievement data. Her research interests include assessment
policy and use of data in schools and districts.
Alyssa Okita, MS, brings a background in
quantitative analysis, program evaluation, and survey methods and
design. She earned a Master’s degree in Statistics,
Measurement, Assessment, and Research Technology from the
University of Pennsylvania and has a Bachelors degree in
mathematics from Bucknell University. Her quantitative
background includes experience with various advanced statistical
and psychometric methods. Her interests include issues of
equity and access in education, education of urban/at-risk youth,
and STEM education programs.
