
Company
Agora Education Services is a woman-owned nonprofit organization located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Serving the education community since 1997, AES provides consulting to projects through its experienced and highly qualified cooperative of researchers. It is our mission to provide the most up-to-date and informed approach and methods of research and measurement to better the outcomes of students the world over. Our company can help you to conceptualize an educational research project and also to create any or all of its component parts or phases.
Presiding Officer: Carolyn Grim
Board of Directors: Elise Christopher, Kathleen Flanagan, and Michelle McNamara
Staff: Tiffany Yanosky

Meet our team
Our comprehensive suite of professionals caters to a diverse team, ranging from seasoned architects to renowned engineers.
Board Members
Carolyn Grim, Ph.D.
Presiding Officer
Dr. Grim is an education statistics and psychometrics expert with extensive experience in test development, survey methodology, and quantitative analysis. Her strategic insights and advanced statistical modeling using SPSS, R, and specialize…Read More
Elise Christopher, Ph.D.
Board Member
Experienced in team leadership, project management, oral and written presentation, recruitment and outreach, Elise brings passion and focus to her projects. Most recently, at NCES, Elise managed six simultaneous large, nationally representat…Read More
Kathleen Flanagan, Ph.D.
Board Member
Kathleen Flanagan has led numerous evaluation and large-scale assessment projects. Innovative course modules that show educators how to take charge of classroom and school outcomes are available at chartingyourowncourse.com.Read More
Michelle McNamara
Board Member
Experienced in research design, project management, and evaluating school-based interventions in K-12 settings. Michelle has worked as an evaluator for multiple classroom intervention programs using qualitative and quantitative methods. Most…Read More

Carolyn Grim, Ph.D.
Presiding Officer
- Survey & Program areas:Middle Grades, National Studies
- Service:Data Analysis, Measurement, Project Management, Reporting, Research Design
- Employment type:Contract, Full time, Part time
- Work site:Hybrid, Local to me, Remote
Carolyn Grim, Ph.D.
Presiding Officer
Dr. Grim is an education statistics and psychometrics expert with extensive experience in test development, survey methodology, and quantitative analysis. Her strategic insights and advanced statistical modeling using SPSS, R, and specialized psychometric software result in valid and reliable instruments for scales that yield precise, data-driven decisions. She specializes in enhancing data collection processes and improving survey design while maintaining a commitment to excellence and innovation in educational research.

Elise Christopher, Ph.D.
Board Member
- Survey & Program areas:High School, National Studies
- Service:Data Analysis, Project Management, Reporting, Research Design
- Employment type:Contract, Full time, Part time
- Work site:Hybrid, Local to me, Remote
Elise Christopher, Ph.D.
Board Member
Experienced in team leadership, project management, oral and written presentation, recruitment and outreach, Elise brings passion and focus to her projects.
Most recently, at NCES, Elise managed six simultaneous large, nationally representative longitudinal studies of high schoolers into adulthood, resulting in the release of over 10 national-level datasets of survey and administrative data with supporting documentation and supplementary tables. Every product release was on-budget and on-schedule, meeting Congressional mandates for NCES data release and NCES Standards for high data quality.

Kathleen Flanagan, Ph.D.
Board Member
- Survey & Program areas:State-level Studies
- Service:Data Analysis, Measurement, Project Management, Research Design
- Employment type:Contract
- Work site:Remote
Kathleen Flanagan, Ph.D.
Board Member
Kathleen Flanagan has led numerous evaluation and large-scale assessment projects. Innovative course modules that show educators how to take charge of classroom and school outcomes are available at chartingyourowncourse.com.

Michelle McNamara
Board Member
- Survey & Program areas:National Studies, NHES
- Service:Data Analysis, Project Management, Reporting, Research Design
- Employment type:Contract, Full time, Part time
- Work site:Hybrid, Local to me, Remote
Michelle McNamara
Board Member
Experienced in research design, project management, and evaluating school-based interventions in K-12 settings.
Michelle has worked as an evaluator for multiple classroom intervention programs using qualitative and quantitative methods. Most recently, Michelle served as the Survey Director for the National Household Education surveys program at NCES which collected information on parents’ involvement in their children’s schooling and use of child care.
Staff
Tiffany Yanosky, M.A.
Research Associate
Ms. Yanosky is an experienced research professional with a diverse educational background, including …Read More

Tiffany Yanosky, M.A.
Research Associate
- Service:Data Analysis, Measurement, Reporting
- Employment type:Contract, Full time, Part time
- Work site:Remote
Tiffany Yanosky, M.A.
Research Associate
Ms. Yanosky is an experienced research professional with a diverse educational background, including degrees in Sociology, Nursing, and Business. Skilled in educational and social research, survey methodology, data analysis, and technical writing. Expertise in using statistical software. Strong project management capabilities with experience supporting government agencies, universities, and non-profits.