Kevin Schaaf is Director of Research and Analysis at the Tennessee Department of Education. His research interests focus on measuring classroom instruction, teacher preparation, teacher evaluation and development, and the intersections between research and practice. He was a classroom teacher for nine years at the elementary level and has taught students from preschool to doctoral levels.  He received a Ph.D. in social research methodology, as well as an MPP and M.Ed., from UCLA, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Brown University. He and his wife have four children and he enjoys rock climbing, camping, reading, and writing with family and friends.