Kerri A. Kerr
Baltimore,MD
Summary
Experienced and enthusiastic Consultant with track record of success across wide range of industries. Possesses exceptional interpersonal, problem-solving and analytical skills to provide advice and expertise to client organizations improving business performance. Experienced in all aspects of operations, strategy and finance.
Professional consultant with track record of providing valuable insights and strategic solutions to diverse clients. Adept at leveraging analytical skills and industry knowledge to drive impactful outcomes. Known for fostering team collaboration and adapting to dynamic environments, ensuring project success and client satisfaction.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & President
Sage Education Advisors
01.2008 - Current
- As President of Sage Education Advisors, provides high-level consulting and detailed technical assistance to states, districts/CMOs, foundations, and other non-profit organizations working in the education field on strategic planning, program development and implementation, leadership coaching, grantmaking, and evaluation and knowledge management. Project work spans the full design-plan-implement-reflect continuum, including activities such as:
- - Providing technical assistance to organizations on the design and implementation of key programs and initiatives
- - Leading organizational strategic planning processes with a particular focus on outcomes and measures of success
- - Conceptualizing, managing, and implementing evaluation, measurement, and learning strategies
- - Conducting research and generating internal and/or public-facing reports, including data collection and analysis activities
- - Facilitating meetings and funder groups
- - Coaching leaders on organizational structures, plans, and culture
- - Serving as a liaison between clients and evaluators to provide technical expertise and management of large-scale research studies
- - Playing a key backstopping role for foundations to provide capacity and support for grantmaking and other internal activities
- Selected current and past clients include the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rodel Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Heckscher Foundation, Literacy Design Collaborative, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Opportunity Consulting, Project Evident, Code in the Schools, America Achieves, 2Revolutions, edsUP, NewSchools Venture Fund, New Leaders for New Schools, National Academy of Advanced Teacher Education, 100Kin10, and Urban Schools Human Capital Academy.
Chief Data and Accountability Officer
New Leaders for New Schools
01.2006 - 01.2008
- As a member of New Leaders for New Schools’ Executive Team, planned and executed all strategies related to data, research, and accountability across the organization. Core work included developing a longitudinal research agenda; managing internal and external data collection, analysis and learning activities; designing data systems and metrics to assess program implementation and effectiveness; implementing strategies to develop a culture within the organization that is committed to strategic use of data; and supporting organizational strategic planning, budgeting, and operational reviews.
Director of Research and Evaluation
New Leaders for New Schools
01.2005 - 01.2006
- As a member of New Leaders for New Schools’ Executive Team, planned and executed all strategies related to data, research, and accountability across the organization. Core work included developing a longitudinal research agenda; managing internal and external data collection, analysis and learning activities; designing data systems and metrics to assess program implementation and effectiveness; implementing strategies to develop a culture within the organization that is committed to strategic use of data; and supporting organizational strategic planning, budgeting, and operational reviews.
Associate Social Scientist
RAND Corporation
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Conducted education policy research, with a particular focus on educational reform at the school and district levels, educational accountability, and school choice.
Researcher, Talent Development High School Model
Johns Hopkins University, Center for Social Organization of Schools
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Part of team that developed, implemented, and evaluated the effectiveness of a comprehensive high school reform model.
8th Grade Math Teacher
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Ridgeland, MS
01.1997 - 01.1998
High School Math Teacher
Clarksdale Public Schools, Clarksdale, MS
01.1995 - 01.1997
- Member of Mississippi Teacher Corps
Education
Ph.D. - Sociology
Johns Hopkins University
01.2002
M.A. - Sociology
Johns Hopkins University
01.2000
M.A. - Secondary Education
University of Mississippi
01.1997
B.A. - Psychology (major), Mathematics (minor)
University of Virginia
01.1995
Skills
- Collaborative team management
- Analytical problem-solving
- Innovative problem-solving
- Project leadership
- Project implementation
- Analysis & evaluation
- Change management
HONORS AND AWARDS
RAND/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Education Policy, 2002-2003, Award for Excellence in Graduate Research, Talent Development of Students Placed At Risk Special Interest Group, American Educational Research Association, 2002, Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship for Research Related to Education, 2001, Member of Mississippi Teacher Corps Fellowship, School of Education, University of Mississippi, 1995-1997, Echols Scholar, University of Virginia, 1992-1995, National Science Scholar, 1992
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Demonstrating the Potential of LLM AI to Provide High-Quality Narrative Feedback to Students and Parents/Caregivers on Writing Quality Aligned with LDC-SCALE Analytic Student Rubrics (2024). Literacy Design Collaborative.
- Increasing College Persistence Through Emergency Grant Programs (2023). Heckscher Foundation for Children.
- Freedom to Dream: How the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund Empowers Black Leaders and Honors Their Experiences (2023). The Moriah Fund.
- Aiming Higher: How a Standards-Driven Approach Achieves Equity and Improves Student Learning (2020). Literacy Design Collaborative.
- Shifting Courses: Achieving Equity in High School STEM (2020). 100Kin10.
- Doing The Math: Building a Foundation of Joyful and Authentic Math Learning for All Students (2019). 100Kin10.
- Teachers at Work: Designing Schools Where Teachers and Students Thrive (2018). 100Kin10.
- Kane, T.J., Kerr, K.A. & Pianta, R.C. (Eds.). (2014). “Designing Teacher Evaluation Systems: New Guidance from the Measures of Effective Teaching Project.” San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
- Archer, J., Kerr, K.A. & Pianta, R.C. (2014). “Why Measure Effective Teaching?” In Designing Teacher Evaluation Systems: New Guidance from the Measures of Effective Teaching Project. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
- Pianta, R.C. & Kerr, K.A. (2014). “Measuring Effective Teaching—The Future Starts Now.” In Designing Teacher Evaluation Systems: New Guidance from the Measures of Effective Teaching Project. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
- Bozick, R., Alexander, K., Entwisle, D., Dauber, S., & Kerr, K. (2010). Framing the Future: Revisiting the Place of Educational Expectations in Status Attainment.” Social Forces, 88(5), 2027-2052.
- Kerr, K.A., Marsh, J.A., Ikemoto, G.S., Darilek, H. & Barney, H. (2006). “Districtwide Strategies to Promote Data Use for Instructional Improvement.” American Journal of Education.
- Marsh, J. A., Kerr, K. A., Ikemoto, G. S., & Darilek, H. (2006). “Developing District-Intermediary Partnerships to Promote Instructional Improvement: Early Experiences and Lessons about the Institute for Learning.” In K. K. Wong & S. Rutledge (Eds.), System-wide Efforts to Improve Student Achievement. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.
- Marsh, J., Kerr, K. A., Ikemoto, G. S., Darilek, H., Suttorp, M. Zimmer, R.W. & Barney, H. (2005). “The Role of Districts in Fostering Instructional Improvement: Lessons from Three Urban Districts Partnered with the Institute for Learning.” Santa Monica, CA: RAND, MG-361-EDU.
- Kerr, K.A. and Legters, N. (2004). “Preventing Dropouts: Use and Impact of Organizational Reforms Designed to Ease the Transition to High School.” In G. Orfield (Ed.), Dropouts in America: Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisis. Boston, MA: Harvard Education Publishing Group.
- Glennan, T.K., Bodilly, S.J., Galegher, J. & Kerr, K.A. (Eds.). (2004). “Expanding the Reach of Reform: Perspectives from Leaders in the Scale-up of Educational Interventions.” Santa Monica, CA: RAND, MG-248-FF.
Timeline
Founder & President
Sage Education Advisors
01.2008 - Current
Chief Data and Accountability Officer
New Leaders for New Schools
01.2006 - 01.2008
Director of Research and Evaluation
New Leaders for New Schools
01.2005 - 01.2006
Associate Social Scientist
RAND Corporation
01.2003 - 01.2005
Researcher, Talent Development High School Model
Johns Hopkins University, Center for Social Organization of Schools
01.1999 - 01.2002
8th Grade Math Teacher
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Ridgeland, MS
01.1997 - 01.1998
High School Math Teacher
Clarksdale Public Schools, Clarksdale, MS
01.1995 - 01.1997
M.A. - Sociology
Johns Hopkins University
M.A. - Secondary Education
University of Mississippi
B.A. - Psychology (major), Mathematics (minor)
University of Virginia
Ph.D. - Sociology
Johns Hopkins University