Jennifer Broatch is a statistician who specializes in mixed models and the application of those models to educational data- specifically value- added models. She also focuses on the improvement and development of statistics education by integrating statistics in natural science research courses, as well as partnering with local school districts and educational agencies. As a statistician, she also plays a key role in a number of interdisciplinary projects including: threatened species identification and modeling for IUCN scientists, plant diversity, latent finger print modeling in forensic science and more.
Prior to arriving at the West Valley campus, Broatch was a visiting assistant professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus where she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses.
Jennifer Broatch’s research interests include generalized linear mixed models, statistical computing, missing data, data with complex dependence structure, and statistical methods for educational evaluation. Her primary research focus is on the application of statistical methods to educational data, especially value added models.
Publications
Statistics:
Broatch, J., Green, J., and Karl, A. “RealVAMS: An R package for Fitting a Multivariate Value-added
Model (VAM).” R Journal. Accepted- pending revisions (2017).
Broatch, J. and Karl, A. “Multivariate Generalized Linear Mixed Models for Evaluating and Predicting
Team Performance” Special Issue of Italian Journal of Applied Statistics. To appear -(2017).
Pivovarova, M.,Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Broatch, J., (2016). Value Added Models: Caveat Emptor.
Broatch, J. The Impact of 'Real World Outcomes' on Teacher Effectiveness Measurements. Joint Statisitcal Meetings (JSM) - Boston (Aug 2014).
Jennifer Broatch and Jenifer Boshes. Tossing the Tables: Using RStudio to Adapt to Student Learning Styles through Evolving Technology. United State Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS) (May 2013).
Jennifer Broatch. Multidimensional Assessment of Value-Added by Teachers to Real World Outcomes. Graduate Student Seminar - School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Tempe) (Oct 2012).
Jennifer Broatch. Session title: "Recent Developments in Value-added Models". Joint Statistical Meetings 2012 - San Diego, CA (Aug 2012).
American Statistical Association- AZ Chapter, Annual Statistics Workshop - Instructor (2012 - Present)
American Statistical Association- AZ Chapter, Annual Statistics Workshop - Instructor (2012 - Present)
Statistics, Politics and Policy, Referee (2012 - Present)
Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, Referee (2012 - Present)
American Educational Research Journal, Referee (2012 - Present)
Intel Science and Engineering Fair, Judge (2012 - Present)
Joint Statistical Meetings Program Committee (JSM 2015), Committee Member (2014 - 2015)
Consulting
External Grant Evaluator for multiple United States Department of Education (USDoE): Math Science Partnership (MSP) Grants *Evaluation of summer educational interventions (data collected in June and evaluated in July for all projects)
Chandler Unified School District: Chandler Intel Mathematics Academy- Response to Intervention (2013-2015), Science Matters (2014-2015), Chandler Intel Mathematics Academies (2009-2011), and Physical Science Investigators and Chandler Science Investigators (2007-2008)
Maricopa County Education Service Agency: FOCUS: Formative Assessment Opportunities andContent Training Using a Systematic approach (2015)
Gila County Education Service Agency: GEORG: Gila Energy and Organisms (2015), FAMUS (2016)
Crane Unified School District: Intel Math (2015)
Agua Fria School District: SIMPLE - Integration of Math and Science (2016)
Paradise Valley Unified School District: Intel Math (2016)
Washington Elementary School District: Intel Math (2015)
The evaluation for the projects in 2009/ 2010 were recognized as meeting the highest standard of rigor in evaluation (2 of 55 national projects recognized). There were more than 2000 projects that are reviewed for rigor. My evaluation reports are used as exemplars. I provided general statistical support for the projects, including experimental design, data analysis and methodology development. Including the preparation of the evaluation portion of the annual report for submission to the state of Arizona and United States Department of Education.
The evaluation analyzed the impact of the program on teacher practice, teacher knowledge and student achievement, and worked closely with the district’s grant administrators to ensure project success, by providing informative assessment results.
Pro Bono
Advanced Math Committee- Arizona Department of Education