Kyle Fagan

REL Director

About

REL Midwest Director

Kyle Fagan, PhD, is the director of REL Midwest and a principal researcher at AIR. In this role, he leads the REL Midwest team to work alongside teachers and education leaders across seven states, providing evidence-based technical support and applied research on topics such as early literacy, middle school math, career and technical education, the educator workforce, and creating safe and supportive learning environments for students. With over 10 years of experience in research, evaluation, and technical assistance, Dr. Fagan specializes in collaborative strategies to address complex, systemic issues. His work reflects a deep commitment to fostering sustainable progress in education systems through meaningful partnerships, evidence-based practice, and continuous improvement. He holds a master’s degree in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology and a doctorate in Leadership, Policy, and Educational Change from Boston College.

Associated IES Content

Blog

Career and technical education: Providing pathways to increase workforce equity

Two district-level practitioners in Indiana shared how their career and technical education programs are using equity-focused strategies to increase access and prepare all students for success beyond high school.
Date published:
Aug 12, 2021
report Descriptive Study

Participation in a Professional Development Program on Culturally Responsive Practices in Wisconsin

State and school district leaders in Wisconsin are interested in improving educational outcomes among Black students across the state. Implementing culturally responsive practices aims to improve the academic achievement and behavioral outcomes of minority students. Through continued support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, a professional development training program for culturally responsive practices, Building Culturally Responsive Systems, has been one of the primary mo...
Nov 01, 2020
Publication number:
REL 2021 047
Blog

Nurture the soil while planting the seeds: Three actions for creating inclusive and antiracist environments for Black teachers

Hiring and retaining Black teachers can improve outcomes for Black students, yet Black teachers are more likely than their White colleagues to leave the profession. Learn three actions educators can take to support an inclusive and antiracist workplace.
Date published:
Oct 28, 2020
Blog

Cultivating and celebrating Black students' strengths: "Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave"

A recent Wisconsin conference drew on REL Midwest research to promote promising practices for cultivating and celebrating the strengths of Black students.
Date published:
Jun 27, 2019
report Systematic Literature Review

Evidence-Supported Interventions Associated with Black Students' Education Outcomes: Findings from a Systematic Review of Research

REL Midwest conducted a systematic review of research on interventions that may improve academic outcomes for Black students. The review entailed a search for studies that provide evidence at Tier I (strong evidence), Tier II (moderate evidence), or Tier III (promising evidence) according to the Every Student Succeeds Act, and explicitly mention associations between an intervention and Black students' achievement in math or reading, dropout rates, or graduation rates. After screening 3,917 st...
Feb 01, 2018