Supporting Our Staff: A Look Inside CIS of Eastern PA’s Data and Evaluation Department

At Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania (CIS of Eastern PA), surrounding students with a community of support means understanding what works, where support is needed most and how we can continuously improve. 

That’s where our Data & Evaluation Team comes in, helping turn information into insight so our work can have the greatest possible impact. At the heart of that work is our Director of Data and Evaluation, Jon Irons. In his role, Jon helps CIS of Eastern PA turn information into insight and insight into action.

Jon first joined the CIS of Eastern PA team seven years ago as a site coordinator at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School, where he began using data to understand inequities in student outcomes. In 2021, Jon transferred to the role of data manager, using his site coordinator experience to ask similar questions across the entire CIS of Eastern PA network.

“Data is only meaningful when it’s presented as part of a compelling story,” said Jon. “I’m grateful every day that I’m given the freedom here to answer difficult questions, make predictions and ultimately ground our stories in evidence in service of our mission.”

Today, the data team plays a vital role in strengthening CIS of Eastern PA’s programming by transforming organization-wide student data into insights that drive better outcomes. This includes traditional academic measures such as attendance, grades, annual reports and suspensions, as well as social-emotional learning assessments, stakeholder surveys, and detailed service logs. Together, these data points help paint a fuller picture of how CIS of Eastern PA supports students, and how those supports can evolve to meet changing needs.

Collaboration is central to the data team’s work. Since data is everywhere, the data and evaluation team is everywhere. Jon and his team partner closely with site coordinators, leadership and development staff to ensure data informs decision-making at every level. 

“Analyzing data allows us to understand trends across our network and changes in response to different needs and other factors on the ground, enabling me to evaluate a student’s growth, not just in terms of their own metrics and personal improvement, but also how it speaks to student health and our impact more broadly,” said Jon. “As case management practitioners, using data can help us learn how to grow and adapt professionally to meet the needs of our broader educational community.”

The Data and Evaluation Team may work behind the scenes, but their impact is felt across the organization by strengthening programs, supporting staff and ensuring CIS of Eastern PA continues to meet students where they are.

Thank you, Jon, for helping CIS of Eastern PA turn data into meaningful change for students and communities!