Nathan Powell
Ph.D. Specialty Area: My specialty is Education Administration, Foundations, and Policy.
Present Position: I am currently job searching for a position in public education. I have opted not to pursue employment in higher education because my passion is working with younger people.
Dissertation Topic: My interest is the effects of parental involvement in determining student achievement in primary age school children in a hierarchical linear model. As such, I was interested in comparing initial student status and student growth over a give time period.
Prior to coming to the SOE: Before entering graduate school at the University of Michigan, I was a school teacher in Vero Beach, FL.
What I Learned in the Program: I have a better appreciation for research based curricula and how important it is that research be incorporated in the decision making process in establishing classroom instruction. Researched based curricula are essential in helping our students become better learners and teachers to become better instructors. I developed the skill to work with large data bases, to analyze and interpret statistical data, and the art of critical thinking. These skills are important to me in determining the reliability, validity, and relevance of educational research.
