Hi everyone,
As 2025 winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the past year and a highlight has been the time I spent in the field, working alongside district and state leaders, and often in the middle of deep conversations about curriculum. One theme came up again and again: getting instruction right for students.
Those conversations were a powerful reminder that curriculum decisions aren’t abstract. They shape what teaching and learning look like in classrooms every single day.
Keeping that reality front and center guided our work at CEMD this year, as we worked to make insights meaningful and usable for the people who relied on them. This remains a huge focus for my entire team. Even though much of their work happens behind the scenes, they are always focused on supporting leaders with clear, usable information—and I’m incredibly proud of the role they play in our impact.
To end the year, I’d love to share their reflections on the highlights of 2025:
Shari Meffert, Director of Data Operations:
“An exciting part of this year was expanding our data collection in a big way. We grew our dataset to include nearly 3,000 districts, and have a goal of reaching 5,000 districts next year. This expansion will give us the clearest and most comprehensive look at the math, ELA, and science landscapes that impact at least 50% of students in every state and almost 70% of all students nationwide. Better data leads to better decisions and CEMD data insights are a critical part of that.”
Katie Dombrowski, Director of Marketing and Communications:
“I’m really proud of our focus on making sure leaders could find and use CEMD insights when they needed them. That looked like publishing dozens of resources, hosting conversations with peer organizations, and collaborating with partners to create spaces where shared information could travel further than doing it alone. Seeing nearly 1,000 new readers engage with CEMD research this year reminded me how much clear, accessible information can genuinely support better decision-making.”
David Ahmadi, Director of Data and Technology:
“Throughout the year we worked with several State Education Agency teams as they built or refined systems to elevate high-quality instructional materials. Each project surfaced a similar challenge: how do we make information transparent, usable, and equitable at scale? Co-building solutions alongside those states, with the goal of improving the classroom experience for every student, was a true bright spot for me.”
Adam Erler, Data Analyst:
“As a data-minded person, a significantly enjoyable part of my first year here was seeing our information and insights land in the hands of stakeholders. Meeting with university experts, speaking with partners to help inform their analyses, and connecting with state teams in planning conversations was a highlight. Knowing that what starts out as rows and columns on a spreadsheet is informing people to ask better questions to meet the needs of students everywhere is easily the biggest reward of this work.”
Kainat Puetz, Director of Finance & Administration:
“A highlight for me was our focus on preparing CEMD to grow responsibly. We strengthened internal systems, planned for growth, and supported deeper partnerships to extend our impact across the field. Because of that groundwork, we’re entering 2026 ready to expand into new domains like science and professional learning and bring new tools and research to life.”
Meg Johnson, Chief Operating Officer:
“This year marked an important step in growing our data and research teams, allowing us to deepen both our expertise and our capacity. Looking ahead, as we add several new roles, our focus remains on building long-term expertise that compounds over time and strengthens our ability to drive impact.”
Diane Pincus, Product Information Specialist:
“I spend a lot of time deep in our data: building new frameworks and taxonomies, piloting datasets, and exploring the curriculum market. What’s stood out to me this year is how clearly that data reflects the real people behind curriculum decisions. Every district conversation made clear how much care and behind-the-scenes work goes into curriculum selection. Sharing those stories helps other leaders see themselves in the data, and imagine what’s possible for their districts.”
Emma Goldberg, Research Manager:
“This year reminded me of the impact of data when paired with real, human context. Seeing the stories that our data tell, and the way others are able to use those stories to further their own work, is so powerful. One particular highlight was partnering with ELSF—combining the quantitative insights from our data with the qualitative insights from district leaders—all in service of students and teachers. Presenting that work and seeing leaders compare notes, challenge their assumptions, and ask better questions than they had started with was such a good reminder of the kind of exchange that makes this work really feel alive.”
These team reflections remind me that none of this work happens in isolation—it is built through partnership with district leaders, state leaders, and peers across the field. And for all of you, I am grateful.
Thank you for being a part of this community and part of this journey. We look forward to continuing this work alongside you in the new year.
Happy holidays,
Lora
