Sarah

J. Wille, PhD
4119 Clement St. | San Francisco, CA 94121 | 312.315.3988 | swille@uchicago.edu

Senior Education Researcher

Studying educational innovations to improve Computer Science education and STEM education overall

EDUCATION
Ph.D. Anthropology Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 2007
M.A. Anthropology Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 2003
B.S. Anthropology/Writing Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 1997

EXPERIENCE
Senior Education Researcher






May 2015 present
Outlier Research & Evaluation | CEMSE | University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Leadership of nationally funded research projects to support and improve K12 computer science education.
Notable responsibilities:
Serve as PI of two, multi-year NSF-funded projects: one measuring implementation of K-12 introductory
computer science and the factors affecting implementation (The BASICS Study; #1339256) to produce
research instruments and other tools for the computer science education community of researchers and
practitioners, and the other (Wolcott CSP Study: #1542963) a broadening participation study,
identifying and developing adaptations and accommodations needed in the AP Computer Science
Principles instructional materials to ensure accessibility for students with learning disabilities and
attention disorders. I provide intellectual and conceptual leadership and oversee all aspects of these
projects, including staff management, timelines and work scope, budgeting, instrument creation and
data analysis and interpretation, report writing and product development, information dissemination,
communications, and stakeholder involvement;
Participate in strategic planning and development of Outliers CS and STEM efforts and engage in
proposal development;
Contribute intellectually and logistically to other STEM+C-focused research and evaluation projects
ranging in scope from elementary doctoral level, and contribute to research proposal development;
Design and pilot quantitative and qualitative instruments, and collect and analyze qualitative data using
HyperRESEARCH for analysis, and quantitative data using Qualtrics for on-line surveying and STATA and
SPSS for statistical analysis;
Build, develop, and nurture STEM+C practitioner - partner relationships and create and disseminate
practical and useful products and tools for stakeholders from research findings;
Supervise and mentor a Research Assistant.

Education Researcher






2014 May 2015
Associate Project Director/Research & Evaluation Associate



2012 2013
Outlier Research & Evaluation | CEMSE | University of Chicago

Collaboratively implemented research projects focused on improving K12 STEM education. Specifically:

 Served as a key researcher on a NSF-funded project to create tools and resources for education leaders
to implement or strengthen computer science education programs in K-12 schools and districts;
Contributed intellectual and logistical support for STEM-focused research and evaluation projects;
Led or served as a key researcher on evaluation projects (including two graduate-level evaluation
projects), contributing to instrument development, data collection, and analysis;
Supported research team grant proposal development and implementation;
Established practitioner partner relationships and produced and disseminated accessible reports and
informational documents for practitioner, client, research, and stakeholder audiences;
Facilitated an open research, online environment to support collaborations around education
improvement (Researchers Without Borders) and designed and implemented STEM practitioner and
researcher webinar series using Adobe Connect;

School Support Services and Research & Evaluation Associate



2010 2012
Center for Elementary Math and Science Education (CEMSE), University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Provided direct science content and pedagogy support to grade preK-8th teachers and contributed to current
research and evaluation project initiatives. Specifically:
Served as science coach/support for a school implementing hands-on/inquiry-based FOSS science
curriculum, supporting teachers to prepare for lessons, while in the classroom, and providing
observational feedback for improvement;
Developed and supported implementation of technology enhancements for science curriculum Science
Companion, trained elementary school teachers on use of technology components, and collected
classroom-level data about teacher use of technology;
Supported research and evaluation project work, including tool development, data collection, analysis
and dissemination of results, and partnership development

Social Science Program Specialist







2007 2010
The Field Museum of Natural History, School Partnerships Team, Education Department, Chicago, IL


Managed all social science programming for educators and managed Field Museum involvement in a
collaborative science education change effort. Specifically:
Managed the Fields High School Transformation Project (HSTP/IDS) School Change Initiative partnership
(with the Illinois Institute of Technology Math & Science Education Department faculty and teaching
coaches), focused on supporting teachers in development of a Scientific Inquiry (SI) and Nature of
Science (NOS) approach to science teaching and learning. Project elements included designing and
implementing professional development for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) science teachers and
collaboration with 21 CPS high school teachers, contributing to high school science curriculum
development, overseeing stakeholder relationships through the Museums Education Department, and
designing and running a CPS high school student summer intern program for HSTP students;
Led the Field Ambassador Teacher Professional Learning Community by developing and implementing
professional development for teachers in the Museums four areas: Geology, Botany, Zoology, and
Anthropology. Administration of the Field Ambassador program also included managing budgets;
Served as social sciences content specialist and supervised contractors, student interns, and volunteers

Curriculum Specialist & Program Developer






2006 2007
The Field Museum of Natural History, Teacher Programs Division, Education Department, Chicago, IL

Wille 2

Led development of educational materials for an archaeology exhibition about the peoples of the Americas and
organized/managed the accompanying stakeholder advisory committee. Specifically:

Developed educational materials based on archaeological research and Native perspectives, educational
standards, and advisory committee recommendations;
Designed and facilitated educator professional development experiences and scientific speaker series;
Managed an Education Dept. initiative to include underrepresented peoples in science and history in the
construction of educational materials about the peoples of the Americas. Project elements included
connecting with individuals in communities historically underrepresented among visitors to natural
history museums, those whose ancestors were represented in the exhibition about the history of the
Americas, educators working in ethnically-diverse school communities in Chicago, and facilitating
monthly review and development sessions of educational materials.

Educational Programs & Events Associate






2005 - 2006
International Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago, IL

Research/Evaluation Associate








2005
John G. Shedd Aquarium, Audience Research and Evaluation Department, Chicago, IL


Associate Instructor








2000 - 2004
Indiana University Anthropology Department, Bloomington, IN

PARTICIPATION in OUTLIER EDUCATION RESEARCH GRANTS
Principal Investigator. EBP: Bringing AP Computer Science Principles to Students with Learning Disabilities
and/or ADHD: The Hidden Underrepresented Group, 2015 2017 (National Science Foundation, award #
1542963).
Principal Investigator. CS 10K: Examining Supports and Barriers that Affect the Implementation and
Endurance of Exploring Computer Science (ECS) in Schools and Districts, 2013 2016 (National
Science Foundation, award # 1339256).
Lead Researcher. EAGER: Leading Computer Science Growth: A Toolbox for K-12 Teachers, Administrators, and
other Stakeholders, 2014 2016 (National Science Foundation, award #1433832).
Researcher. Factors that Affect Implementation, Spread and Sustainability: An Implementation Study of
Everyday Mathematics, 2011-2015 (National Science Foundation).
Researcher. Scientific Validation of a Set of Instruments Measuring Fidelity of Implementation (FOI) of Reform-
Based Science and Mathematics Instructional Materials, 2011-2014 (Department of Education/IES).
Researcher. The Ohio STEM Learning Network: A Study of Factors Affecting Implementation, Spread, and
Sustainability, 2010-2014 (National Science Foundation).

ARCHAEOLOGY RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Researcher









2005 Present
Center for Archaeology in the Public Interest, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Research Instructor & Supervisor







2001 - 2005
Chau Hiix Archaeological Project and Field School (Indiana University), Belize, Central America

Researcher











2004
Hierakonpolis Archaeological Field Expedition (British Museum), Edfu, Egypt
Wille 3



Researcher, Cahal Pech Archaeological Laboratory




Institute of Archaeology, Tourism Development Project, Belize, Central America

SELECT PAPERS and PRESENTATIONS

2002

Wille, S., Century, J., & Pike, M. (2016, August). Computer Science Principles (CSP) and Students with Learning
Differences: Expanding Opportunities for a Hidden Underrepresented Group. Paper to present at the 2nd annual
IEEE Special Technical Community on Broadening Participation/RESPECT (Research on Equity and Sustained
Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology) Conference, Atlanta, GA. (In review)

Wille, S., Roberts, E., & Svetlik, S. (2016, July). Bringing CS to Students with Learning Differences. Organized
session for the Computer Science Teachers Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.

Wille, S., Century, J. & Pike, M. (2016, April). The Hidden Underrepresented Group: Opening the Door to
Computer Science for Students with Learning Differences. Paper presented at the 100th American Educational
Research Association Meeting, Washington, DC.

Wille. S. (2015, November). Expanding Computer Science Education for Students with Learning Differences.
Invited presentation for the Next General STEM Learning for All: A Forum Supported by the NSF, Washington,
DC.

Wille, S. & Century, J. (2015, March 12). The Current State of K-12 Computer Science Education in the United
States. [Webinar] In MSP Academy Webinars. Retrieved from
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/webinars/webinar_info?id=400

Wille, S. and Kim, D. (2015). Factors Affecting High School Student Engagement in Introductory Computer Science
Classes. Poster presented at the 46th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, Kansas City,
Missouri.

Doubleday, A. F. and Wille, S. J. (2014). We are What We Do: Examining Learner-Generated Content in the
Anatomy Lab Through the Lens of Activity Theory. Anatomical Sciences Education doi: 10.1002/ase.1434.

Wille, S. (2011). Partnerships in Education. Forming Partnerships and Preparing New Generations of
Archaeologists, invited panelist, Society for American Archaeology, Sacramento, CA.

Wille, S. (2010). Exploring Citizenship Education through Science: Fostering Knowledge and Engaging School
Communities at Museums. Paper presented at the Comparative and International Education Society, Chicago, IL.

Wille, S. (2008). Museum Archaeology Education: Can Archaeology Be Socially Relevant in Urban School Settings?
Paper presented at the World Archaeological Congress, Dublin, Ireland.

Wille, S. (2007). Preparing to Engage in Urban School Reform. Paper presented at the American Association of
Museums, Chicago, IL.

Wille, S. and Ancient Americas Educator Advisory Committee Members (2007). The Ancient Americas Educator
Guide (fieldmuseum.org/sites/default/files/aaguide.pdf).
Wille 4


Wille, S. (2006). Field Participates in High School Transformation Project: Educators Nationwide Are Watching. In
In The Field, Volume 78 (1).

Wille, S. (2006). Representations of the Past in a Multicultural Present: The Politics of Ethnicity and Nationalism
at the Museum of Belize. Paper presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology, Vancouver, British Columbia.


ADVISORY, AWARDS and HONORS
AccessCS10K Partner (NSF award #s 1440843 & 1440878; University of Washington), working to increase
successful participation of students with disabilities in Exploring Computer Science (ECS) and Computer
Science Principles (CSP).
Project Advisor, NSF Informal Science Education planning grant Archaeological Science for All (Montana
State University and National Project Archaeology) exploring ways to broaden participation of decent
communities and cultures largely excluded by institutions that interpret the research findings, 2008
2010
Women in Science Research Grant, 2006
College of Arts and Sciences Research Scholarship (Indiana University), 2006
Graduate Professional Student Organization Research Grant (Indiana University), 2006
David C. Skomp Dissertation Year Fellowship, 2004 2005
Wenner-Gren Anthropological Foundation Individual Dissertation Research Grant, 2004
Center for Latin American/Caribbean Studies Research Grant (Indiana University), 2003
David C. Skomp Pre-Dissertation Research Grant, 2002

REFERENCES
Available upon request

Wille 5