Research Design
At Agora Education Services, we provide expert research design services for national, state, and local education research and policy studies. Our team supports educators, policymakers, and institutions in developing rigorous methodologies for analyzing education systems, evaluating policies, and assessing program effectiveness. From data collection to policy impact analysis, we ensure your research is structured, credible, and actionable—helping to shape informed decisions that drive meaningful improvements in education at every level.
Service Providers
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.