The K-12 Educator’s Data Guidebook

Reimagining Practical Data Use in Schools

In my new book, I explore how K-12 educators can redefine their relationship with school data so using it is meaningful, practical, and rewarding. Read my post about why I had to write this book: “A Book Update (A List of Hopes).”

The K-12 Educator’s Data Guidebook is a comprehensive field guide for school professionals learning to use data.

“Non-data people,” rejoice! Requiring no prior proficiency in data tools and programming, this book validates the implicit challenges of learning to use data to empower educators and features original real-world examples from in-service educators to illustrate common problem-solving. Each chapter uses stories, humor, and a human approach to set the tone for a safe and fun learning experience. Through this highly practical foundation, everyday educators can better engage school initiatives, professional development, and instructional challenges that require competent data use for improving school systems.

Ryan Estrellado is a writer, educator, and data scientist. Ryan tells inspiring stories about the reality of education work, ranging from overcoming a fear of data to finding a creative practice in the workplace. He has over twenty years of experience in public education. Ryan lives with his family in San Diego, CA.

Praise for The K–12 Educator’s Data Guidebook

  • "Highly readable and invitingly humorous, this book will become a foundational resource for educators looking to power up their use of data."

    Joshua Rosenberg, Assistant Professor of STEM Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • "My parents, career educators, believed that only central office administrators used data. They never imagined that they could use data to improve their teaching, to address disparities, and to empower their students. I wish this book had existed when they were in the classroom."

    Miriam Greenberg, Director of the Strategic Data Project at the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University

  • "The K-12 Educator's Data Guidebook provides concrete examples, reflections, and activities to help educators accurately and effectively interpret, describe, and use data. Well-organized and accessible even to new users of data, this excellent resource is filled with valuable insights on how to use data to answer specific questions in schools."

    Cara Jackson, Senior Associate in the Social and Economic Policy Division at Abt Associates

  • "Grounded in Ryan Estrellado’s practical experience, this book provides accessible tools for using data to inform decision making in schools."

    Amanda Datnow, Professor of Education Studies at University of California San Diego

  • "When they read it, they'll get a deeper, more personal, and, dare I say, more fun experience than they bargained for. Ryan Estrellado helps us recognize that data can transform how we see the world."

    Ji Son, Professor of Psychology at California State University, Los Angeles