Researchers & Advisors

Principal Research Director

• Dr. Kevin E. Kalinowski, istation’s Director of Research, has a Ph.D. in Educational Research, specializing in multidimensional item response theory (IRT) and computerized adaptive testing (CAT). Dr. Kalinowski has applied his expertise in measurement and assessment to challenges found in early reading and online learning environments through several publications and presentations. As a prior high school teacher of mathematics and science, Dr. Kalinowski’s passion is to appropriately utilize current research to help teachers and parents make the best decisions regarding differentiated instruction and timely intervention for their students.

External Research Advisors

• Dr. Reid Lyon, Distinguished Professor of Educational Policy and Leadership at SMU and Distinguished Scholar in Brain and Behavior Sciences at the University of Texas, Dallas. Formally the Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch at the National Institutes of Health and the director of the largest reading research program nationally and internationally.
• Dr. Vicki Gibson is one of the country’s leading experts on how children learn to read. She has operated 3 schools for children aged 2 to 12 where she could put principles of education into practice. She is an author of several books about different aspects of reading and is a national speaker on education reform. She was the Vice President for Curriculum Development for istation from 2005 to 2007 and lead the team designing the reading program. She is a graduate of Texas A & M University where she received her Bachelor of Arts, Masters and Ph. D. and was a Lecturer and Adjunct Professor.

Learn more about istation's Assessment Authors.

Consultants

Researchers who consulted with our company during design and development include:

• Dr. Marilyn Adams, visiting scholar at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, research scientist and internationally renowned author in the field of literacy acquisition with contributions including the landmark book, Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print;
• Dr. Douglas Carnine, Professor of Education at the University of Oregon and Director of the National Center to Improve Tools of Educators;
• Dr. David Francis, Chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston, Director of the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics and a recognized authority in the assessment of reading skills and the effectiveness of courseware;
• Dr. Jan Hasbrouck, educational consultant and trainer, author of The Reading Coach and national expert in the field of reading fluency, coaching, assessing and teaching struggling readers.

While working with these and other researchers and educators, our company analyzed decades of research related to literacy acquisition to develop a comprehensive understanding of a successful reading program that focuses on essential reading skills and incorporates that understanding into a data informed approach to teaching students to read.