Q&A with Calen Clifton, Cohort 12 SDP Fellow Alumnus

This Q&A is part of an SDP Blog series profiling members of the 2023 – 2025 SDP Alumni Advisory Board. All posts from this series may be found here.

Calen Clifton is a Cohort 12 (2020-2022) alumnus of the Strategic Data Project (SDP) Fellowship, where he was placed as a Senior Data Analyst at ImpactTulsa, a collective impact organization aiming to turn data into systemic change by convening community sectors through the shared vision that all children in Tulsa, OK receive every opportunity to succeed, from cradle to career. During his fellowship, Calen developed data-informed policy recommendations to promote teacher diversity and postsecondary opportunities in the Tulsa area.

Calen is now a Research Analyst at the Center on Reinventing Public Education at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, where he supports a variety of research and evaluation project related to the educator workforce, instructional models, and school improvement strategies. Calen has also worked as a Research Analyst in the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and as a Research Associate at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Calen is a former middle school teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and holds an Ed.M. in Education Policy & Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

What drew you to the SDP Fellowship?

Before the SDP Fellowship, I was in the first year of my research career, working as a Research Associate at Duke University. I was drawn to the SDP Fellowship’s professional development opportunities and cohort design, which appealed to my desire for personal and professional growth. The two-year fellowship term seemed long enough to promote meaningful learning and connection.

Tell us about your current job!

I spend most of my time working on an evaluation of Next Education Workforce, a team-based instructional model. I also support our Innovative School Systems Grant project, which funds and tests school improvement strategies. I joined the team in mid-August and am excited about the future. My average workday is heavy on data and light on meetings. I work in Stata throughout the day and spend intermittent time communicating with others. I like to get warmed up by coding something quick and not necessarily related to my main project, like a data request from a colleague or just something I am curious about.

What skills did you gain from your time as an SDP Fellow that you find helpful in your current role?

I learned a lot about effective data visualization techniques during my time as an SDP Fellow. This gave me a tool to help create opportunities for myself. For example, when I worked at NCDPI, my colleagues knew I could efficiently create great data visualizations, so they would ask me to help with projects like State Board presentations or legislative reports. I explored their data along the way and took note of research potential. This helped me pitch my own ideas, which sometimes led to more interesting and policy-relevant work!

What changes do you anticipate in your field in the next year?

I think the end of ESSER funding will stimulate more conversations around school finance and funding. I also think that education policymakers will shift more fully into a post-pandemic mindset, hopefully without losing sight of recovery efforts. Finally, I suspect that many people will use lessons learned from the pandemic to weave arguments for overhauled accountability systems. For example, with so much pandemic-era attention to yearly test score differences, why not make academic growth a more visible permanent feature of school performance?

What is the most memorable or impactful moment or experience from your time as an SDP Fellow?

My cohort began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our in-person workshops shifted to being held remotely on Zoom and we met each other in-person for the first time two years later at the annual SDP Convening. It was wonderful to finally connect face-to-face with my cohort-mates. I remember going out to grab a bite to eat with them and we couldn't find anywhere to sit but no one really cared because we were having so much fun!

What advice would you give to prospective or current SDP Fellows?

Be open-minded and explore new ideas. Explore new pathways. The SDP Fellowship experience has so many distinct components that it is sure to lead to something meaningful, whether personal or professional.

What is something that you would tell your younger self about your career?

I really enjoyed my time in the classroom but sometimes I wonder if I should have transitioned to a research career earlier. Unfortunately, most teacher preparation programs do not generally prepare students for quantitative research work. I think that people interested in quantitative policy careers should take as many math courses as possible during high school and college. They should also constantly seek research opportunities and roles where they can work on coding in a language like Stata or R. This will help aspiring analysts more quickly obtain skills, credentials, and networks that can accelerate their career.

What is something you enjoy in your free time?

I am an avid climber and enjoy training to climb harder and harder boulders. I visit my local gym frequently and always stop by local gyms when I am traveling. I haven't climbed outdoors in over a decade but have a trip planned this fall. I hope to achieve a new personal best and make new friends along the way.

What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading?

My wife and I like to watch reality shows on Bravo. We recently made it to the current episode of Real Housewives of Orange County after starting at the beginning. We are currently watching Below Deck, a show ostensibly about chartered yachting.