Collaborative Research and Evaluation for Lasting Impact
At the Binghamton University Couper-Owens Center for Community Schools, scholarship
efforts are led by Kathleen Provinzano, PhD, and Toni May, PhD, Co-Directors for Research
and Evaluation, in collaboration with Naorah Rimkunas, PhD. Collectively, their research
strengthens the evidence base on community schools and informs policy and practice
across local, state, and national contexts. Using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed
methods approaches, their work examines student outcomes in community schools and
investigates the role of principals in school-university-community partnerships. Experienced
scholars, they are also developing and validating instruments for use in community
schools research and evaluation.
In addition to academic contributions, the Couper-Owens Center's faculty lead applied
evaluation projects and professional learning initiatives that respond to the needs
of practitioners and communities. Recent efforts include evaluating a rural school
mental health program that enhanced social work training and expanded student supports
and the co-development of a two-day professional practicum designed to equip educators
and school leaders with actionable tools to strengthen, scale, and sustain their community
school transformation. These initiatives exemplify the team’s commitment to bridging
research and practice to strengthen educational policy and practice. Through this
integrated agenda, the Couper-Owens Center research and evaluation division seeks
to advance rigorous, data-informed scholarship that shapes the future of community
schools. Their work emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practice and enduring
partnerships with schools, districts, and community-based organizations.
Faculty, community-based organizations and school districts interested in research or evaluation partnerships are encouraged to contact Tara Edmunds at tedmunds@binghamton.edu