TEA Hires Former UTEP Postdoc for Research Post
TEA Director of Educator Data and Program Accountability
The Texas Education Agency recently hired Mark W. Olofson as its new director of Educator Data and Program Accountability. Olofson is the former postdoctoral researcher
Olofson, a native of Boone, Iowa, started his new position March 15, 2018. He said that his job consists of working with his TEA team to gather data related to teachers and Educator Preparation Providers (such as UTEP) to shape and implement accountability measures; conduct analyses that are useful for districts, students, TEA,
The new director earned his Ph.D. in
Olofson said his CERPS postdoc work introduced him to the state’s student and teacher data, which factored in his being hired by TEA.
“The big data skills, visualization skills, and knowledge of data I gained while with UTEP are invaluable in my new position,” Olofson said.
David S. Knight, Ph.D., CERPS associate director, said he predicts that Olofson’s skills will be highly valued at TEA. He added that this recent TEA hire reflects positively on CERPS, the University and its College of Education.
“Mark was an extremely talented (postdoctoral) fellow who, over the course of the year, learned a great deal about how to use data to inform policy,” Knight said. “I am thrilled about Mark’s new position and look forward to reading about his important work.”