Barbara McKenna

Director of Strategic Communications

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Barbara McKenna is the Director of Strategic Communications. She oversees outreach relations for LPI, communicating LPI’s news to media and the public and serving as a resource for members of the press looking for research to inform education news of the day. McKenna started her career as a reporter at the Washington Post and segued into public relations after stints as a writer and editor at several California weekly and daily papers. Previously, she was Director of Public Outreach at the Regional Educational Laboratory West at WestEd; Director of Communications at the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education; and Head of Communications at the Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence.

McKenna is a member of the Education Writers Association Board of Directors. She earned her B.A. in English from Oberlin College.

For more about Barbara McKenna's work, see list below.

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Featured Resources

Santa Fe cityscape with the Bataan Memorial Building in foreground and mountains in the background
Report

Improving Education the New Mexico Way: An Evidence-Based Approach

Dec 01 2020
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In New Mexico, children and young people who face barriers to school success from poverty and marginalization are the norm, not the exception. A year-long study from LPI is designed to provide New Mexico policymakers, stakeholders, leaders, and other interested parties a research perspective on the challenges facing education in the state and to identify evidence-based policies that could build a high-quality, equitable system.
Teacher in front of classroom
Report

Sustainable Strategies for Funding Teacher Residencies: Lessons From California

Nov 12 2020
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High-quality teacher residencies have the potential to address workforce challenges, including teacher shortages, underprepared educators, and, when adequately funded, workforce diversity. In 2018-19, California provided seed funding to jump-start or scale such programs. Recognizing that state funding may not always be reliable, programs are also working toward greater financial sustainability. This report examines the current state of teacher residencies in California and strategies these programs use to sustain funding, particularly in the wake of COVID-19.
Woman speaking in front of audience
Report

Elementary School Principals' Professional Learning: Current Status and Future Needs

Oct 27 2020
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Research has found that high-quality professional learning opportunities for principals can build leadership capacity. This study reports on findings from a survey of elementary school principals on access to high-quality professional learning. The survey showed that, while most had access to professional development, far fewer were able to participate in authentic learning opportunities addressing deeper learning, student well-being, and equity.