Questar III Chief Information Officer and Data Analyst Jeff Baker helps schools drive instructional change.
As Questar III BOCES Chief Information Officer and Data Analyst, Jeff Baker’s responsibilities are twofold. He is responsible for providing the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) with student data and BOCES teacher evaluation information. More importantly, he is helping schools go beyond these reporting requirements to drive instructional change and curriculum improvement through the use of data.
Data-driven instruction is one of three school-based initiatives of the Regents Reform Agenda. Using data, superintendents, principals and teachers can determine goals for each student, where the student is in terms of college and career readiness and what changes need to happen to ensure they get there.
As part of this initiative, Baker will be working with other Questar III staff on developing internal processes for loading data into NYSED’s Student Information Repository System (SIRS) as well as ways principals can then utilize the data to make improvements.
Baker is also looking to transition Questar III from their in-house student management system to a commercial product supported by the Northeastern Regional Information Center (NERIC), a division of the Capital Region BOCES. According to Baker, a NERIC product will allow Questar III to migrate away from internal dependencies for updates and enhancements, thereby providing staff with more time to work on other projects. In addition, NERIC products are specifically aligned with NYSED reporting requirements.
As the former NERIC data warehouse managing coordinator, Baker is familiar with the technical benefits of their products. As the former data director of NYSED’s Office of Information and Reporting Services, he is familiar with data policy. Having previously worked at Questar III as a researcher for the Regional School Support Center, he has both experience working with teachers and is familiar with BOCES.
According to Baker, the experience working at every level of the system has been “eye opening,” but says he is thankful to be back at Questar III working directly with teachers and administrators.
Baker says he likes working for an organization that goes above and beyond compliance. “These are good people doing the right thing and making a positive difference for students,” said Baker. “I really like being a part of that.”
Baker received a bachelor’s of arts degree in Psychology from University of Binghamton, State University of New York and a master’s of science degree in Educational Psychology from University of Albany, State University of New York.
Currently living in Delmar, NY, Baker enjoys teaching poker and chess to his 7-year-old daughter Ella, who was adopted from China. He also loves to read, run and play the guitar.
