Jill Walston is a principal researcher at the American Institutes for Research. Dr. Walston leads quantitative research and technical assistance projects mainly for the Midwest and the Southwest Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) programs, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Dr. Walston serves as the project director for AIR’s ...
Yinmei Wan is a senior researcher at AIR. She has expertise in designing and implementing rigorous educational research and evaluation projects. Dr. Wan has played integral roles in various research projects around educator quality. She works on the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest team and leads the research effort for ...
This spotlight takes a look at the history of Title I, how the program has changed over time, and how it affects children, schools, families and education policy. Experts weigh in on the program's past and future in interviews, briefs, and blogs.
Lois Kimmel is a TA consultant at AIR. Kimmel’s expertise focuses on educator shortages and diversifying the teacher workforce, with a specific emphasis on teacher recruitment and preparation. Ms. Kimmel builds the capacity of state education agencies to strengthen their workforce through designing interactive professional development workshops, conducting mixed-methods research, ...
Flora Harmon is a researcher at AIR. Her work focuses on advancing equitable based practices in early childhood and child welfare systems. Dr. Harmon has been working in the early childhood field since 2006 and has extensive research and practice expertise in the areas of equity, early childhood education, child ...
Iris Daruwala is a senior researcher at AIR, where she works with foundations and federal, state, and local agencies on research and evaluation projects. Her work is primarily focused on understanding how educational interventions and reforms can reduce inequities among marginalized student groups and support whole child well-being. As an ...
Making education a true engine for human and social development requires evidence-based instructional strategies and systems for students, families, and teachers. AIR integrates the science of what works with the equally complex science of implementing what works on a global scale.
Ryan Williams is a principal researcher at AIR with expertise in causal inference methods and meta-analysis. Dr. Williams is the principal investigator on an Institute for Education Sciences (IES) meta-analysis that explores sources of heterogeneity in mathematics intervention effects. He is also a co-principal investigator of an IES methods training ...
Dr. Gilmour is a principal researcher at AIR. She has extensive experience in special education policy analysis, focusing on improving access to effective instruction for students with disabilities by studying special educator labor markets and teaching quality. Dr. Gilmour has methodological expertise in quantitative methods, often using data from state ...
Ashley Pierson is a senior researcher in the Education Systems and Policy, Human Services program at AIR. She has over 15 years of experience conducting applied research, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and mixed-methods studies. Dr. Pierson is a certified reviewer under What Works Clearinghouse Group Design Standards (Version 5.0). She brings ...