Challenging issues like chronic absence, teacher shortages, and disparities in student achievement demand more than isolated solutions—they require true collaboration across the education community.
This webinar invites leaders to learn about WestEd’s Research–Practice Partnership (RPP) Network and explore how long-term RPPs enable interest holders to cocreate evidence-based responses to real-world challenges. Participation in the RPP Network and its activities is free.
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 10–11 a.m. PT / 1–2 p.m. ET
In this webinar, WestEd experts will highlight the launch of a WestEd RPP Network that will support partners in responding to emerging and critical needs. Participants will hear examples of how WestEd partners with districts and education agencies to codevelop and adapt evidence-based strategies that directly reflect each community’s unique strengths and priorities.
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how collaborative, context-sensitive RPPs are uniquely suited to address the specific needs and interests of schools and districts. We’ll share how leaders and education agencies can connect with the RPP Network around their specific priorities, empowering them to build partnerships that bridge research, policy, and practice—ensuring that voices from every corner of the education community help shape meaningful solutions.
Who Should Attend?
- School district administrators
- Instructional coaches
- School leaders
- County administrators
- State education agency administrators
Featured Speakers
Lenay Dunn
Over her 20 years of experience in education research, Dunn has developed expertise in mixed-methods research, program evaluation, policy implementation, technical assistance, and research use. As a senior research director at WestEd, she fosters knowledge exchange and evidence use with education partners to help them make decisions, guide implementation, and improve opportunities and outcomes. Dunn entered the education field as a teacher and spent several years leading school- and university-based programs focused on ensuring that students have access to opportunities and supports to succeed.
Alicia Okpareke
Drawing on her experience in research, teaching, and technical assistance, Okpareke serves as a senior research associate at WestEd. In this role, she partners with state and local education agencies and community organizations to advance work focused on educator pathways, teacher retention, literacy, and special education systems improvement. Previously, Okpareke was an elementary and middle school teacher, data coordinator, and associate professor. In that last role, she led research projects to strengthen teacher preparation and retention.
Don’t miss out on this exciting conversation–register below!