Akisha Osei Sarfo, a research and evaluation veteran of more than 15 years, was recently named director of research for the Council of Great City Schools, succeeding Ray Hart, who has been named the Council’s executive director.

Sarfo’s work spans policy areas such as urban education, race and equity in education, education policy, teacher quality and school accountability.  

Prior to joining the Council, Sarfo served as senior associate partner at Bellwether Education Partners. She also was the chief performance officer at Guilford County Schools in North Carolina, where she led the division of accountability, research and planning.

Sarfo also worked as a research assistant professor at the Center for Research on Education and Social Policy at the University of Delaware and as a Harvard Strategic Data Project fellow. Moreover, she has served in other roles conducting research and evaluation at state and federal agencies and in the nonprofit sector.

“We are pleased to have such a talented and seasoned leader guiding our research and evaluation efforts to improve teaching and learning in urban school systems,” says Council Executive Director Ray Hart.

Sarfo holds a Ph.D. in education evaluation, measurement and statistics from the University of Delaware.