Dana Center Role
Carol serves as the evaluation lead at the Center. Her duties include: planning, designing, and managing evaluations of projects and initiatives that facilitate a successful transition from high school to college; building the capabilities of leaders, faculty, teachers, students, and community members to identify and address barriers to student access and success in math and science; and introducing educators to a powerful body of research and practice to support students as they engage, persist, and succeed in math and science.
She manages the work of external research and evaluation personnel and liaises with external organizations to bring a variety of expertise that impacts developmental measurement and to ensure that the voices of students and families are centered in the work.
Collaborating with Center staff, Carol develops funding proposals and reports. She works closely with staff to facilitate an understanding of evaluation processes and results and to encourage the use of evaluation findings to improve projects. This could involve collaboratively developing logic models and data collection instruments and facilitating the use of evidence in continuous improvement efforts. Carol collaborates with communications staff to disseminate evaluation findings for the good of the field.
Before Joining the Dana Center
As a research analyst at the Austin Independent School District, Carol designed and conducted evaluations of programs. She guided and assisted program staff in the evaluation process, from developing ideas for evaluation topics to interpreting results for use in program improvement.
Carol led the evaluation of the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program by producing several publications that guided program change, which were presented at various events, and representing the district in a local coalition. Carol also conducted research on access to postsecondary education, especially for Hispanic graduates, and strategies to address disparities.
Carol previously served as executive director and vice president of evaluation at True Brilliance, a nonprofit that helped teens experiencing disciplinary issues to succeed in high school. With her board of directors, she conducted strategic planning and raised funds by researching and writing successful grant proposals. As vice president of evaluation, she designed and implemented rigorous program evaluations.
Education
- M.S., Community and Regional Planning, The University of Texas at Austin
- M.A., Latin American Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
- B.A., Secondary Education/Social Studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Selected Publications
- Singleton, C., Deverel-Rico, C., Penuel, W. R., Krumm, A., Allen, A. -R., & Pazera, C. (2024, March 25). The role of equitable classroom cultures for supporting interest in science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 61(5), 998–1031.
- Penuel, W. R., Krumm, A., Pazera, C., Singleton, C., Allen, A. -R., & Deverel-Rico, C. (2023, June 22). Belonging in science classrooms: Investigating its relation to students’ contributions and influence in knowledge building. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 61(1), 228–252.
- Penuel, W. R., Allen, A. -R., Deverel-Rico, C., Singleton, C., & Pazera, C. (2023, March 3). How teachers’ knowledge of curriculum supports partnering with students in their science learning. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 34(8), 861–882.
- Deverel-Rico, C., Penuel, W. R., Singleton, C., Allen, A. -R., Krumm, A., & Pazera, C. (2023). Lessons learned from the OpenSciEd middle school field test. Digital Promise OpenSciEd Research Community Monthly Newsletter.
- Krumm, A., Penuel, W. R., Pazera, C., & Landel, C. (2020, June). Measuring equitable science instruction at scale. International Society of the Learning Sciences.
- Pazera, C. (2016, October). Postsecondary employment and earnings outcomes for 2013 graduates with industry certifications. (Publication 15.54 RB). Austin Independent School District.
Selected Presentations
- Multiple Data Sources, Different Audiences: Telling a Coherent Story About a Science Curriculum Field Test. Presented with Martin, N., American Evaluation Association Conference 2023 (October 2023).
- 250 Teachers in 100 Districts in 10 States: What Has the Field Test Told OpenSciEd About How These Materials Live in Real Classrooms? Presented virtually with Penuel, W., Delaney, S., and Deverel-Rico, C., National Science Teaching Association Web Seminar (June 2020).
- Characteristics and Performance of Career and Technical Education Students. Presented at the Forum on CTE—Focusing Efforts on the Future (February 2015).
- How to Measure Program Success and Tell a Powerful Story. Texas Career Education Conference of the Career and Technical Association of Texas (February 2014).
Professional Memberships
- American Educational Research Association
- American Evaluation Association