Karyn Lewis, PhD
Vice President of Research and Policy Partnerships
Karyn Lewis leads a team dedicated to generating actionable, policy-relevant research that directly addresses critical challenges in K–12 education. Her team’s work is strategically focused on bridging the gap between rigorous research and practical educational improvements, ensuring that insights translate into meaningful strategies for educators, policymakers, and school leaders.
Prior to joining NWEA, Dr. Lewis was a senior researcher at Education Northwest/REL Northwest, where she led a diverse portfolio of applied research, technical assistance, and evaluation projects. She is a former data fellow with the Strategic Data Project at the Harvard Center for Education Policy Research. She completed a National Science Foundation–funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder and earned her PhD from the University of Oregon in social psychology.
Publications by Karyn Lewis
This is the technical appendix for the NWEA research brief titled, “Behind at the Starting Line,” which examines Kindergarten test scores from more than 400,000 U.S. students and noting patterns that can predict academic success or identify students at risk of falling further behind. This early identification is key for educators, enabling them to intervene and influence learning trajectories before the next critical milestone: third grade.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Informing instruction, Early learning, Empowering educators, Growth
NWEA research brief examining Kindergarten test scores from more than 400,000 U.S. students and noting patterns that can predict academic success or identify students at risk of falling further behind. This early identification is key for educators, enabling them to intervene and influence learning trajectories before the next critical milestone: third grade.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Early learning, Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction
This is the technical appendix to the research, “Academically diverse classrooms, deeper needs,” research brief examines the academic diversity of post-COVID classrooms, including the composition and spread of academic achievement levels. Key findings highlight the challenges facing educators as more students are off-track and further behind grade-level proficiency.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction
Academically diverse classrooms, deeper needs: What teachers face after the pandemic
This research brief examines the academic diversity of post-COVID classrooms, including the composition and spread of academic achievement levels. Key findings highlight the challenges facing educators as more students are off-track and further behind grade-level proficiency.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction
Trend Snapshots: COVID-19 recovery in K–2, positive recovery trends
This short research brief highlights trends seen in the latest data released in the NWEA Map Growth National Dashboard. In this latest edition of Trend Snapshots, key findings focus on trends in K-2 academic recovery following the COVID pandemic.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Growth, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss
Technical Appendix: MAP Growth Specialty School National Dashboard
This is the accompanying technical appendix to the MAP Growth Specialty School National Dashboard providing more details of the data and describing more fully the sample and methods used within the dashboard.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Growth
Introducing the MAP Growth National Dashboard: Your real-time companion to MAP Growth norms
The MAP Growth National Dashboard gives real-time insights into national achievement and growth, helping educators understand local trends.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Assessment
