Data in Education

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Commit before October 31st, 2025, and enjoy a 10% discount.

This week’s episode is a little different, and I am (as my dad loves to point out) super excited about it. I was joined by the incredible Jenelle McClenahen, the CEO and founder of Symplifyed.

Jenelle’s story is amazing. She was a teacher who, after her son was diagnosed with autism, saw the power of breaking down big milestones into tiny, measurable steps through his ABA therapy. She had a lightbulb moment and thought, "Why aren't we doing this in the classroom?" She started revamping her entire curriculum with "I can" statements, built a spreadsheet (you know I love a good spreadsheet), and accidentally created a startup.

Learn more about Jenelle McClenahen at www.symplifyed.com

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Connect with Jenelle McClenahen
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jenelle-mcclenahen-67a75570/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563494914023
https://www.instagram.com/symplify.ed/

Connect with Jessica 
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X: @informedimpact
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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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In this episode of Data in Education, I was joined by the incredible Emma Dukhovny. With over 25 years in the New York City Department of Education, Emma is a seasoned English Language Learner (ELL) teacher, data specialist, and professional developer. As an immigrant and an English language learner herself, she brings a deeply personal and powerful perspective to the table. She's the brilliant mind behind the Teachers of ELLs Facebook group and is all about making data work smarter, not harder.

Learn more about Emma Dukhovny in her facebook group for teachers of ELLs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/124682274864590 

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Connect with Emma Dukhovny
Email: [email protected]
X: Emma Dukhovny
Facebook: Emma Dukhovny (personal) and Teachers of ELLs (group Admin)
TikTok: Emma Dukhovny and Teachers_of_ELLs

Connect with Jessica 
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X: @informedimpact
Instagram: @informedimpact 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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Free resources - www.thewholeeducator.com/free-resources

In this episode of Data in Education, I had a fascinating conversation with Becca Silver, the CEO and founder of The Whole Educator, and someone who is truly a kindred spirit in making data more human-centered. With a decade of experience in the classroom, including teaching abroad and co-oping a school in Tanzania, Becca brings a unique, global perspective to her work. After transitioning to instructional coaching, she had a lightbulb moment: the traditional, task-centered approach wasn’t creating lasting change. By integrating her life coaching skills and focusing on the human side of education, she developed a powerful framework for moving beyond mere buy-in to create deep, empowered change—especially when it comes to new data initiatives.

Learn more about Becca Silver at www.thewholeeducator.com

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Connect with Becca Silver
Email: [email protected]
X: https://x.com/BeccaSilver_edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-silver/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWholeEducator
Podcast: https://www.thewholeeducator.com/podcast

Connect with Jessica 
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X: @informedimpact
Instagram: @informedimpact 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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EdChanger Pro App

In this episode of Data in Education, I had a great conversation with Patrick Mongrain, a friend and fellow education data enthusiast who's all about building lasting systemic change. With a decade of experience as a history and leadership teacher, MTSS coach, and a restorative justice specialist, Patrick has a wealth of knowledge. He's passionate about moving past "shiny objects" in education to focus on the instructional practices at the heart of it all. We talked about why data and coaching are so powerful, and why I agree with his mission.

Learn more about Patrick Mongrain at EdChanger.com

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Connect with Patrick Mongrain

https://bio.site/EdChanger

Email: [email protected]

X: @MongrainVPS

LinkedIn: Patrick Mongrain

https://www.youtube.com/@EdChanger

EdChanger Pro App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/edchanger-pro/id6741165826

Connect with Jessica 

Email: [email protected] 

X: @informedimpact

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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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Wellness Checklist

Leadership Coaching Cohort

In this episode of Data in Education, I'm chatting with Dr. Brandi Kelly, a dear friend and the founder of Spark Hope Edu. With over 20 years of experience, Brandi's unique perspective on leadership is shaped by her background in social work and a doctorate in educational leadership. She believes that data should go beyond test scores and start with leaders themselves, and that's exactly what her transformative H.O.P.E system is all about. We dove deep into how leaders can use their own data to lead with more clarity, courage, and compassion.

Learn more about Brandi Kelly at sparkhopeedu.com

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Connect with Brandi Kelly

Email: [email protected]

X: https://x.com/jbmrkelly

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-kelly-ed-d-lcsw/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LTW24

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandinashkelly/

Connect with Jessica 

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X: @informedimpact

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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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Executive Functioning Guide: drkarendudekbrannan.com/efschools
7-Day Course: drkarendudekbrannan.com/schoolleaders 
Karen’s Podcast: defactoleaders.com

In this episode, I interview Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan, a speech pathologist with a wide range of experience in education, from one-on-one student evaluations to designing state-level data systems. The conversation centers on the challenge of balancing large-scale data with the individual stories of students, particularly for difficult-to-measure skills like executive functioning. We discuss why many people are skeptical of data in education, often due to its historical misuse for punitive accountability rather than for growth and support. The conversation highlights the difference between "data-driven" and "data-informed" approaches, emphasizing that data should serve as a starting point to ask questions, not a final verdict. We also explore how to build a culture of trust and collaboration around data, especially when implementing new systems and protocols.

Learn more about Karen Dudek-Brannan at drkarenspeech.com, drkarendudekbrannan.com

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Connect with Karen Dudek-Brannan
Email: [email protected]
X: @drkaren2014
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dudek-brannan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkarenspeech
Podcast: defactoleaders.com

Connect with Jessica 
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X: @informedimpact
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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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This episode is a testament to the power of authentic collaboration and the joy that comes from seeing real student growth. Jen, with her 27 years of special education experience, and Shana, with 20 years in general education, are a perfect blend of old school wisdom and new-school data strategy, proving that it's never too late to learn new tricks, even if you started with a chalkboard.

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Connect with Jennifer Johnson
Email: [email protected]
Learn more about Logic* at www.logicreading.com

*As my podcast is focused less on curriculum and more on best practices and leadership strategies surrounding data culture, data literacy, and data visualization, I have not used or researched the Logic curriculum and thus, cannot endorse its use. 

Connect with Jessica 
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X: @informedimpact
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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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In this episode, I talk with Maricha Matthews, Assistant Principal of Attendance and Discipline at Alan B. Shepherd High School, about her journey as an educator and her passion for using data to build supportive school cultures. With a background spanning special education and MTSS leadership, Maricha explains how she demystifies data for teachers and overcomes the common "data anxiety" in schools. We dive deep into her innovative strategies like "BAG reports" (Behavior, Attendance, and Grades) and "Data Cafes," a unique approach to gathering qualitative data and building trust with at-risk students. Maricha breaks down the logistics of these initiatives and shares how they lead to more collaborative, effective, and people-driven student support systems. This episode is packed with practical examples of how to use both quantitative and qualitative data to foster real relationships and make a tangible impact on student behavior, attendance, and well-being.

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Connect with Maricha Matthews
Email: [email protected]
X: @MrsMMatthews
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marichamatthews
Instagram: @Mdmconsultinggrp

Connect with Jessica 
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X: @informedimpact
Instagram: @informedimpact 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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Clarity Over Clutter Freebie
http://www.catchingupwithcasey.com/clarityoverclutter

In this episode, I chat with Casey Watts, CEO of Casey Watts Coaching and Consulting, about her extensive 20-year journey in education as a teacher, leader, and professor. We discuss Casey’s focus on helping leaders gain clarity within their organizations and the importance of building a thriving data culture with clarity at its core. Casey shares her experiences from various educational roles and introduces her book, 'The Craft of Clarity,' which outlines six steps for school improvement. We dive into her strategies for creating environments where staff can move beyond silos and foster a culture of collaboration. Casey also provides insights into overcoming common obstacles in data conversations, emphasizing the need for structured systems and continuous clarity. This episode is packed with practical advice on creating a clarity-driven data culture, applicable to educators and leaders alike.

Learn more about Casey Watts at www.clarity-driven.com

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Connect with Casey Watts
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/catchupwithcasey


Connect with Jessica 
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X: @informedimpact
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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact 

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Learn more about WeCollab at jigsawlearning.ca/wecollab

In this episode of Data in Education, Jessica interviews Jennifer Ferguson, founder of Sapience Educational Services, shares her 20-year journey in education from teaching to district leadership. She discusses her passion for data-informed decision-making in education and collaboration with Kurtis and Lorna Hewson on the WeCollab software. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of a supportive data culture, celebrating small wins, and creating a psychologically safe environment for educators. She highlights specific success stories in improving educational outcomes for English language learners and encourages further conversations on data and education.

Learn more about Jennifer Ferguson at http://www.sapience-ed.com/

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Connect with Jennifer Ferguson
Email: [email protected]
X: https://x.com/_MrsFerguson_
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-dickson-ferguson
[email protected]

Connect with Jessica 
Email: [email protected] 
X: @informedimpact
Instagram: @informedimpact 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/informedimpact