The ORPE Team
Our Team
Dr. Cecilia Speroni
| Dr. Cecilia Speroni is the Director of Research and Program Evaluation at LAUSD and a research affiliate at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has extensive experience designing and conducting large-scale impact evaluations of educational policies and programs, particularly those benefiting underserved groups. Prior to joining LAUSD, she was an evaluator at the U.S. National Science Foundation, a senior researcher and deputy director of STEM research at Mathematica, and held research positions at the American Institutes for Research and the Community College Research Center. Dr. Speroni earned her Ph.D. in economics and education with distinction from Columbia University. |
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Timea (Timi) Farkas
Program Evaluation and Research Coordinator
Phone: 213-241-8397 |
Timi is passionate about using mixed-methods research to inform education policy and practice and advance equity for historically underserved students. In her position as Program Evaluation and Research Coordinator, she draws on her extensive methodological experience with large datasets, advanced quantitative methods, survey methods, classroom observations, and in-depth interviews. When she is not conducting research, she enjoys spending time with cats, dogs, horses, and her favorite humans.Timi received her M.A. in Education from UC Berkeley and her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UC Santa Cruz. |
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Octavio Pescador Program Evaluation and Research Coordinator Phone: 213-241-4861
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Dr. Pescador coordinates a team of research analysts conducting mixed-method formative evaluations and other research projects across LAUSD divisions and departments. Over the past decade, Octavio has collaborated in research projects on early childhood education at the federal, state and county levels. He is a co-founder of the UCLA Paulo Freire Institute at the School of Education and Information and has taught education and social sciences courses at domestic and international higher education institutions. Dr. Pescador has worked extensively with Angeleno students and community-based organizations in civic engagement projects and served as an international development consultant. His international work has focused on early grade reading project implementation and evaluation in crisis and conflict areas.
In his position as Program Evaluation and Research Coordinator, he manages several projects including the Cohort 1 Short Term Evaluation of Community Schools; Resource and Program Landscape Analysis Social Emotional Learning and Wellness program; and Monitoring the 2022-2026 LAUSD Strategic Plan.
Octavio holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Education from UCLA. |
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Emilio Chavez Herrerias Strategic Data Analyst Phone: 213-241-2453
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Emilio conducts quantitative research for LAUSD, including impact evaluations of its programs. He has 20 years of experience as an applied data analyst and policy researcher in education and international development. This includes extensive work assembling, cleaning, and analyzing large datasets using STATA and other software; using statistical models for estimating parameters in different populations; designing and implementing surveys; analyzing educational achievement and performance trends; evaluating the implementation and impacts of social programs and interventions; and managing or contributing to systematic reviews of evidence on the effectiveness of various interventions in US public schools. He holds graduate degrees in policy analysis and international education policy (Harvard & Pardee RAND), and a bachelor’s in political science (CIDE, Mexico). |
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Dr. Neal Lalwani is a social psychologist who has been with the LAUSD since 2001. Co-author of the book, Self-Awareness & Causal Attribution: A Dual-Systems Theory (2012) which presented a new theory of how self-awareness affects thought, feeling, and action. His former LAUSD projects included absence management, seismic mitigation, and the online field trip system. His current research projects with the SD&E branch include coordinating Verizon innovation studies and exploring cross-departmental perspectives on social emotional learning.
Neal has a Ph.D. in Social psychology from the University of Southern California. |
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Britney Wise Senior Educational Research Analyst Phone: 213-241-4139
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Britney is an education researcher and policy analyst who is dedicated to conducting relevant research that supports the incredible work of LAUSD education practitioners. Britney has worked in a research capacity with LAUSD since 2017. During that time, Britney has led and supported research projects covering a wide variety of topics such as District efforts to support Priority Schools to understanding and addressing chronic absence.
Britney holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Black Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. |
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Jessica Bogner Senior Educational Research Analyst
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Trained in program evaluation and social science research and statistics, Jessica has worked with LEAs, districts, and universities across California to evaluate STEM Professional Development, after-school, pre-teacher training, and justice-involved populations. She has experience working with organizations in data capacity building, creating and managing complex systems for participant follow-up, research requests, and developing a customized database with external technology partners. Jessica utilizes a mixed methods approach with experience in qualitative (focus groups, interviews and observations), quantitative (regression, ANOVA, repeated measures MANOVA) and survey development. Current projects are Title I SPSA Evaluations, Evidence-Based Interventions, and support to Priority Schools.
Jessica holds an MA in Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University and a BFA in Graphic Design from Academy of Art University, San Francisco. |
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Maryam Kakar Educational Research Analyst
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Maryam enjoys supporting student success through research and data analysis, with a strong focus on understanding student needs and promoting evidence-based practices. She has worked with diverse underserved communities in the Central Valley. She has experience analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, developing models to project future student demographics, creating surveys, and facilitating focus groups. Maryam is proficient in Stata, Excel, R, and SPSS, and has basic familiarity with Tableau and Python. At the Office of Research and Program Evaluation (ORPE), she has contributed to various projects, including the Master Plan Evaluation for English Learners, Priority Schools, the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP), and other departmental initiatives. She holds an M.A. in Psychology. |
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Carolin Alexander Senior Office Technician
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Carolin has more than 15 years of experience as an office technician, both in Iran and the United States. She was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She immigrated to the U.S. with her husband in 2006. Carolin is interested in earning a degree in accounting but currently holds an AA in Computer Application Office Technology (CAOT). In the Office of Research and Program Evaluation, her role includes assisting with CERR – proposal reviews, communications, creating and sending approval letters, handling payroll, and performing various administrative duties. |
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Urzula Pacheco
Senior Office Technician
Phone: 213-241-8261
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| Urzula is a member of the support staff with ORPE, where she plays a key role in CERR follow-up procedures. She oversees the department’s social media accounts and leads outreach and marketing efforts for ORPE’s digital magazine, Impact LA, and updates the department's website, as well. With a background in social media marketing and self-taught graphic design, she also leads the department’s party-planning committee. As support staff, she also serves as back-up for administrative and payroll duties. Urzula is now attending school for ITS and Cybersecurity. In her free time, she enjoys movies, music, a good book, and cooking. |
Office Contact Information