Databus Issue: 2004 2 04/01/2004
Member Profile
Lisa Kopochinski DataBus EditorCETPA Member and Triathlon Athlete Kathryn (Bangert) O’Dell Excels in Her Field
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When speaking with Kathyrn (Bangert) O’Dell, the first thing one notices is her determination and “can do” attitude. These qualities are definitely utilized, whether she’s competing in a triathlon or performing her responsibilities as senior project manager for the Application’s Development Group at WestEd in Oakland, a position she’s held since 1997.
“I’m also the project director for the California School Information System (CSIS) Student Electronic Records Transfer Project,” she says. “The focus of this project is to enable LEAs (local education agencies) to transfer student records electronically from one K–12 institution to another, and from K–12 institutions to postsecondary institutions.”
One objective in providing this service to participating districts and schools, she adds, is to give students the opportunity to continue receiving a quality education with minimal disruption to their current learning experience.
“I have worked with a variety of K–12 student and teacher performance-data projects that include classroom, school, district, county, and state levels and utilize multiple data-collection methods, both qualitative and quantitative, as well as statistical data analyses,” she explains.
“The scope of these projects includes designing, developing, implementing, and supporting large-scale data collection and repository systems for initiatives, such as in the content area of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. I’ll often attend state and national-level meetings that include recommendations for improving student data collection methodologies and presentations on methods to translate student data into programmatic improvement.”
It’s this strong interest in education technology that also led her to joining CETPA five years ago.
“After attending my first annual conference, I could see this was a group of individuals that would be a worthwhile investment of my time. I met fantastically dedicated individuals who knew the business of education technology from both a local (education agency) and practical perspective, and who believed in the vision and importance of integrating the most efficient use of technologies within education.”
(Bangert) O’Dell cites the main benefit of CETPA membership as the ongoing opportunity to network, collaborate, and share information with other credible education technology professionals.
When asked where CETPA could improve, she struggles to come up with a response.
“As I attend each conference, I see that membership continues to grow and the number of conference participants expands each year. This is not so much an area of improvement, as it is an observation. So, I see the challenge as maintaining the balance between being responsive to members’ needs, while still meeting those needs with a growing membership.”
Over the next year, she’d like to see CETPA conferences approach the level of some of the national conventions she has attended.
“Throughout my tenure in working with educational technology, I have been fortunate to have attended many national-level conferences. Some conferences have been a great avenue for exchanging educational technology ideas with other statewide representatives. I’d like to see CETPA work toward getting national recognition for being a leader in the industry.”
Prior to entering the education technology field in 1996, (Bangert) O’Dell would sit in on statistics courses at college and do the homework, for ‘fun,’ while earning a master’s degree in psychology. She graduated in 1995, as Magna Cum Laude, with a master’s degree in psychology from California State University, Bakersfield, and two undergraduate degrees in psychology and sociology from California State University, Fullerton.
“One of my professors asked if I wanted to make a few dollars doing data and statistical analyses for graduate students. While conducting their analyses, along with my own, I learned how to use SAS and SPSS (statistical analyses programs) on the computer. This enabled me to do the analyses with a large sample size; which then led me to begin working with database systems. That same professor told me about a research assistant position that was newly available at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. This path led me to my first professional position working in the educational data processing industry for the Migrant Education Program in Bakersfield in 1996.”
Today, she finds the biggest challenge the industry faces is the current economic crisis.
“There’s a desperate need to establish a standard for equitable sharing and the exchange of educational data with appropriate agencies,” she explains. “Currently, with the industry developing easy-to-use software and technology systems, with minimal training, one can create a basic system for collecting and maintaining data about particular program. The challenge here is that each agency’s system is only as comprehensive as the agency designs it to be. Furthermore, having a separately created system creates a silo effect, causing a lot of the same data to be collected multiple times.”
However, she adds that there is the opportunity for agencies to collaborate and agree upon a standard for sharing and exchanging appropriate information.
“Implementing such a collaborative solution would reduce the amount of money necessary for maintaining each disparate system, including the hardware, software, and human resources necessary for maintaining these systems. Finally, investing in such an educational collaborative solution would enable the participating agencies to utilize their funds in a more thoughtful and programmatic way.”
When not busy working or taking care of Chanel, her 14-year-old beloved black lab, competing in triathlons has become a strong love.
“I recently discovered a new passion for participating in triathlons and ultra marathons,” she says. “Last year, was my first year doing a triathlon, and before the race even began, I knew I was hooked. That year also led me to do two more triathlons, as well as a 50 K trail ultra-marathon.”
With nine races and five triathlons planned for this year, one will be her first ½ Iron-man triathlon. Later, she plans to close out the season in Maui, at the Nissan Xterra off-road World Championship triathlon. She was also fortunate enough to receive sponsorship support from Energice (a sports nutrition advanced fluid replacement drink), and Sof Sol (heat cooling support system for the feet—including orthotics and shoe support inserts).
“Being able to participate in such physical endurance activities has brought physical balance and self-satisfaction to my life, and the people I’ve met have been extremely supportive, positive, and great fun to train with.”
