STATA
Diana Serrano
Senior Researcher, Quantitative Methods
Washington,DC
Summary
Dr. Serrano is bilingual and bicultural applied researcher with advanced training in quantitative statistical methodology and qualitative methods. Her expertise lies in research-practice partnerships, outcomes measurement, and data-driven decision making. For over 10 years, she has worked with a wide range of stakeholders, including local, state, and national level partners to help build capacity and use data to drive decision making in the nonprofit sector. Dr. Serrano holds a Ph.D. from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandies University.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Researcher, Quantitative Methods
Education Northwest
Washington, D.C.
01.2019 - Current
- Build and maintain strong trusted-based relationships with local and state education agencies.
- Conduct experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations of programs and policies that employ quantitative methods, including descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, to answer key research questions.
- Lead the design of research and evaluation plans, instruments, analysis, and dissemination plans
- Shape the design and facilitation of surveys, semi-structure interviews, and focus groups, interpretation, and reporting
- Synthesize and present research findings to policy, practitioner, and researcher audiences at professional meetings on a wide range of topics ranging from teacher development to migrant education and early childhood learning
- Presented findings and demonstrated concepts at conferences and events.
Research Associate I
Education Development Center
Waltham, MA
02.2018 - 08.2019
- Informed the conceptualization, design, instrumentation, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of project research components
- Developed teacher and student materials, with a focus on mathematics education in the middle grades and specifically on supporting students who are English Learners in mathematics classes
- Designed on and co-designed and co-developed student cognitive interview protocols
- Conducted cognitive interviews with migrant students whose first language was not English to determine linguistic and cultural appropriateness of materials
- Determined fidelity of implementation of the designed mathematics materials through classroom observations
- Recruited 45 research participants for our randomized evaluation
- Validated incoming data to check information accuracy and integrity while independently locating and correcting concerns.
Lead Data Analyst
Waltham Public Schools
Waltham, MA
01.2016 - 05.2019
- Analyzed large amounts of data to identify trends and find patterns, signals and hidden stories within data.
- Created and automated data visualizations to present insights and tell compelling stories.
- Compiled, organized, and cleaned data from multiple sources to analyze English language learner, K-12, district-wide research on students with limited or interrupted formal education.
- Designed and distributed teacher surveys on project-based learning professional development.
Senior Research Associate
Early Childhood Associates
Framingham, MA
01.2017 - 12.2017
- Collaborated with leadership team to identify relevant questions and determine best methods of collection.
- Oversaw data collection, quality, analysis, and report writing related to the multi-year Preschool Expansion Grant Evaluation in Maine.
- Recruited 13 school districts to expand high-quality early childhood education to four-year-old children whose families earn under 200 percent of the federal poverty line.
- Designed and executed studies to support usability of solutions, analyze data and provide actionable recommendations to project team.
Researcher
Institute For Children, Youth And Family Policy
Waltham, MA
06.2015 - 08.2017
- Developed semi-structure interview protocols for Spanish and English speaking families to evaluate changes to the Massachusetts childcare subsidy program for low-income working families
- Conducted over 40 family semi-structured interviews in Spanish and English for a four-year project
- Provided recommendations on research design for a planned evaluation of changes to the childcare subsidies program as part of the 2014 federal reauthorization
Doctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Rappaport Institute
Cambridge, MA
06.2015 - 08.2015
- Designed research projects and established clear trajectories to achieve intended information.
- Collaborated with other researchers to write and distribute impactful results of factor analysis that identified variables associated with immigrant parents’ decisions to follow up on referrals for the assessment of early childhood developmental delays
Data Analyst
Office Of The State Superintendent Of Education
Washington, D.C.
06.2014 - 08.2014
- Conducted a literature review and key informant interviews to identify explanations for the over representation of English language learners in special education.
- Developed tables, views and materialized views using SQL.
- Identified and documented detailed business rules and use cases based on requirements analysis.
- Coordinated statistical data analysis, design and information flow.
Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives
Central Coast Children's Foundation
Monterey, CA
09.2011 - 05.2013
- Consulted non-profit organizations on low-technology and no-technology options to be used in-country to improve children with disabilities communication in schools and hospitals.
Homeroom Teacher
Northeast Yucai Foreign Language School
Shenyang, China
08.2010 - 07.2011
- Communicated frequently with parents, students and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Planned and implemented integrated lessons to meet national standards.
- Directed after-school tutoring and mentoring program serving elementary school students.
- Held conferences with parents to address questions, discuss academic progress and encourage learning goals.
- Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning.
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators and parents to help students reach learning objectives.
- Reviewed curriculum and devised alternate approaches to presenting lessons to increase student understanding.
Education
Ph.D. - Social Policy
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA 08.2013 - 05.2019
Master of Arts - International Policy Studies
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Monterey, CA 08.2011 - 05.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology And German
Willamette University
Salem, OR 08.2006 - 05.2010
Skills
Experimental design
Research and analysis
Literature reviews
Data collection and organization
Certification
What Works Clearinghouse certified reviewer (RCT and QED) (v4.1)
Software
Accomplishments
- Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Scholar, Expanding the Bench
- Strategic Data Project Data Fellow, Center for Education Policy and Research at Harvard University
Publications
Serrano, Diana, and Martinez-Wenzl, Mary. (2021). Oregon Dept. of Education, Dual Language Immersion Programs Policy Scan. Portland, OR: Education Northwest.
Serrano, Diana, Martinez-Wenzl, Mary, and Perez-Da Silva, Karen. (2021). Oregon Dept. of Education, Migrant Education Programs Policy Scan. Portland, OR: Education Northwest.
Greenberg Motamedi, Jason, Serrano, Diana, and Hanson, Havala. (2020). Oregon MESA: Increasing the odds of high school graduation. Portland, OR: Education Northwest.
Serrano, Diana, and Scardina, Kelli. (2019). Improving the Identification of English Learner Students for Talented and Gifted Programs (Infographic). Portland, OR: Education Northwest.
Serrano, Diana. 2015. Investigating the Factors that Directly and Indirectly Impact Parental Capacity. Boston, MA: Children’s Trust Massachusetts: Family Support Programs.
Hooker, Sarah, Michael Fix, and Margie McHugh. 2014. Education Reform in a Changing Georgia: Promoting High School and College Success for Immigrant Youth. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.
Hooker, Sarah, Margie McHugh, Michael Fix, and Randy Capps. 2013. Shaping Our Futures: The Educational and Career Success of Washington State’s Immigrant Youth. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.
Joshi, Pamela. 2016. Evaluation of the Child Care Voucher Eligibility Reassessment Administrative Change in Massachusetts, Year 2 Implementation Report. Boston, MA: Department of Early Education and Care and Brandeis University. In preparation.
Timeline
What Works Clearinghouse certified reviewer (RCT and QED) (v4.1)
08-2021
Senior Researcher, Quantitative Methods
Education Northwest
01.2019 - Current
Research Associate I
Education Development Center
02.2018 - 08.2019
Senior Research Associate
Early Childhood Associates
01.2017 - 12.2017
Lead Data Analyst
Waltham Public Schools
01.2016 - 05.2019
Researcher
Institute For Children, Youth And Family Policy
06.2015 - 08.2017
Doctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Rappaport Institute
06.2015 - 08.2015
Data Analyst
Office Of The State Superintendent Of Education
06.2014 - 08.2014
Ph.D. - Social Policy
Brandeis University
08.2013 - 05.2019
Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives
Central Coast Children's Foundation
09.2011 - 05.2013
Master of Arts - International Policy Studies
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
08.2011 - 05.2013
Homeroom Teacher
Northeast Yucai Foreign Language School
08.2010 - 07.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology And German
Willamette University
08.2006 - 05.2010