Reviewing K-12 Outreach’s Last Year of Supporting Education Research, Policy, and Practice
Annually, December offers a chance to reflect on the year that was and begin planning for what's to come as the calendar flips ahead. Lightheartedly, this period invites folks to consider their recent music preferences via their Spotify Wrapped or Apple Music Replay (we’ll leave some ambiguity about who our 2025 top artists were), debate the best TV shows of the last year (we had some staunch backers of The Pitt and White Lotus), and relive their favorite sports teams’ seasons (we’re very happy MSU’s basketball season is underway). More seriously, this time also offers the opportunity to contemplate one’s points of pride, success stories, personal and professional growth, and new and revitalized relationships over the last twelve months. Hopefully, this reflective tradition helps people close the door on any unresolved items from the past and ready themselves to jump wholeheartedly into a fresh start, while making sure to build some bridges between previous, current, and future priorities, values, and initiatives.
In the spirit of this custom, we use this month’s edition of the In Focus newsletter to review our last year, including the education research we conducted, the policy we helped shape, and the practitioners we engaged across Michigan, the United States, and the world. Hoping to capture a broad swath of our work and diversify who our readers hear from, we asked some of our staff members and outreach specialists to share some musings on their favorite 2025 projects. We hope that these testimonials raise further awareness about the wide variety of work the Office of K-12 Outreach conducts, the incredible efforts of our partners, and what we have planned for 2026. Thanks to these folks for sharing their stories and our project collaborators (on these endeavors and others) for trusting us to support their vital undertakings!
- “I was honored to help support UM Health-Sparrow, East Lansing Public Schools, and Eaton RESA as we planned for and opened the ELPS Health Center! This work was made possible by an ongoing grant through the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), and it serves youth throughout Ingham County. I’m also incredibly proud and honored to have supported work with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). I'd be remiss if I didn't express my gratitude for being part of this amazing collaboration!” – Tamara Bashore-Berg, K-12 Outreach Specialist
- “My favorite project I supported this year was a campus visit from Chandler Park Academy Middle School in Southeast Michigan. In partnership with the College of Education’s Office of Access and Community Engagement (ACE) and MSU GEAR UP, we hosted 120 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for a day of workshops, campus tours, and lunch at Brody Hall. The workshops focused on the college-going process, including admissions, financial aid, and academic programs with additional content on goal setting. The highlight of the day was seeing how excited all the students were to see Sparty!” – Dr. Bryan Beverly, K-12 Outreach Director
- “I am proud of the research our office has done in the past year in the educator workforce space. In particular, my research in partnership with Dr. Chris Torres on the reasons behind teacher absenteeism, published in Education Policy Analysis Archives in June, was a highlight. I also really enjoyed my applied work with Flint Community Schools and Eastern High School in the Lansing School District.” – Dr. Jacqueline Gardner, K-12 Outreach Director of Data & Evaluation
- “Albus Dumbledore said that ‘happiness can be found, even in the darkest times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’ Working with the MDOC staff has brought me a deeper appreciation of the importance of light and hope in dark times. The staff brings passion and commitment to educate a population that might find it difficult to believe in hope. Every time I participate in learning with them, I am in awe of the difference that they make. They are true beacons of light for education.” – Nicole Gittinger, K-12 Outreach Specialist
- “My favorite K-12 Outreach project this year was the Flint Summer Leadership Retreat hosted at the Graduate Hotel in East Lansing. This 2.5-day experience brought together school and district administrators, along with key central office staff members, to prepare for the year ahead through targeted learning, reflection on the district’s mission and core beliefs, and intentional systems planning. It also strengthened organizational culture by giving leaders time to connect, share meals, and engage in team-building activities that deepened relationships and built relational trust.” – Dr. Jamii Hitchcock, K-12 Outreach Specialist
- “The Flint Center for Educational Excellence (FCEE) is a multi-tiered organization launched by the C.S. Mott Foundation to consolidate the efforts of schools and community groups in the Greater Flint area. Its goal is to improve outcomes for children from infancy to young adulthood through coordinated initiatives backed by research and centered on community engagement and parental support. Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary School (DTM), part of Flint Community Schools, is one of two schools in that district that were awarded a grant to utilize improvement science and classroom data as a member of the FCEE’s Network for School Excellence. Eight Flint area schools comprise the network and share data related to their use of best practices such as instructional coaching and co-constructive efforts across classrooms, schools, and districts. I have enjoyed supporting this project over the last year.” – Shirley Jackson, K-12 Outreach Specialist
- “The College and Career Readiness Committee (CCRC) at Eastpointe Middle School implemented a new initiative this school year to expose students to college requirements, career and postsecondary opportunities, and financial aid options. Thanks to the work of committee members, college banners, posters, pennants, and career information are all visuals strategically placed throughout the building. Students participated in two college and career tours during the first semester. With that, a representative from Saginaw Valley State University held informational sessions with students during December to discuss topics related to preparing for college and careers. Also, team members have obtained college paraphernalia, videos, and informational pieces to support activities planned for ‘College and Career Day.’ The staff and committee members realize the benefits of exposing students to postsecondary opportunities and have made a commitment to continue offering these activities annually. It has been a pleasure to serve on the CCRC.” – Janet Jones, K-12 Outreach Specialist
- “Over the past year, I have been working closely with the project director, coordinators, and facilitators involved in the High Impact Leadership (HIL) for School Renewal project at Western Michigan University, which helps schools engage in continuous improvement. During this time, we have applied for grants, submitted proposals to academic and practitioner conferences, and prepared manuscripts for publication in scholarly journals.” – Dr. John Lane, K-12 Outreach Specialist
- “For over two decades, MSU’s Office of K-12 Outreach has offered education leaders, academics, and research associates opportunities to closely examine international approaches and solutions to key education policy challenges. One of these efforts is the Global Education Policy Leadership Program (Global EPLP), which is designed to provide participants with a broader perspective by studying education policy initiatives in economically developed and developing countries. The 2025 Global EPLP in Costa Rica explored the complex and interconnected relationships involving environmental sustainability and community autonomy in Latin America. Through a new partnership developed with MSU’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities’ Program on Sustainability in Costa Rica, this year’s participants examined and discussed the challenges of environmental protection, economic development, natural resource security, youth development, and community engagement. As one of the Global EPLP’s two leaders, it was a privilege to help develop and nurture this new MSU partnership and co-lead the Costa Rica field experience.” – Dan Schultz, Global EPLP Co-Coordinator and Senior Policy and Program Advisor for the Office of K-12 Outreach
- “I am deeply proud of the work my team and I did to support educators in rural schools and correctional settings – two contexts that often receive limited attention despite serving unique and under-resourced populations. Through the MiCAREER Rural Education Grant, I helped deliver professional learning to rural educators to support their professional growth and retention, a focus that is a personal passion of mine. I was also fortunate to serve on the team supporting the Michigan Department of Corrections’ educational staff. These educators teach us as much as we support them. Providing meaningful professional learning to academic and vocational educators in correctional settings – while supporting students both emotionally and academically – is deeply rewarding. The commitment and impact of correctional educators deserve to be shared and celebrated.” – Becky Stauffer, K-12 Outreach Specialist
- “Over the last year, I was grateful to be part of the K-12 Outreach Data & Evaluation Team's work with Flint Community Schools, supporting the district's incorporation of data into the school improvement process. Together, we reviewed academic, attendance, and behavior data to monitor various new initiatives, support the attainment of FCS' MICIP and Partnership Agreement goals, and further develop building-wide capacity to use data. Since joining K-12 Outreach in 2019, I've had the chance to work with Flint educators, and I'm constantly amazed by their passion and commitment to their scholars.” – Tyler Thur, K-12 Outreach Associate Director of Data & Evaluation
- “A true community partnership has been created in Eastpointe Community Schools. Whether it involves home visits to connect with families, flower planting with parents in the spring, or providing parent learning with sign language experts for nonverbal students, the desire to create a community of learners is thriving in Eastpointe Community Schools. Watching our youngest students prepare for a K-5 experience is exhilarating as a partner of the district. Eastpointe Community Schools is committed to teaching children how to successfully navigate school, ensuring their early childhood education prepares them for K-12 success.” – Deb Trapp, K-12 Outreach Specialist
As these testimonials hopefully make clear, it has been an extremely busy 2025 for the Office of K-12 Outreach, along with its coaches, facilitators, leaders, outreach specialists, and support staff members. More importantly, though, these reflections show just how meaningful the last year of work has been, thanks to our dedicated partners and institutional support from higher education entities (especially Michigan State University’s College of Education), governments, and foundations. Looking ahead, after a chance to catch our collective breath during this upcoming winter break, we’re excited to get back to these efforts and others in 2026. Throughout the course of the next year, we’ll make sure to feature project updates via the In Focus newsletter and our social media channels. Moreover, individuals with questions are encouraged to reach out to us via email at k12out@msu.edu.