Reino Makkonen
REL West at WestEd Director of Partnership Development
Reino is a researcher who directs partnership development and maintenance for the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) West, which is one of 10 regional educational laboratories funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, the research and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education. REL West is administered by WestEd, a nonprofit research, development, and service agency. REL West works in collaboration with educators and leaders in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah to conduct training and coaching so that research evidence informs policy and practices that will lead to improved learner outcomes. As a federal contractor, REL West provides services free of charge, with partners who are not simply recipients of REL work but active participants and collaborators. Reino is assisting the current partnership between Grand County School District and REL West to improve data use and math instruction and student outcomes in mathematics, and is interested in hearing more about the current priorities of other rural districts and schools in Utah and how REL West can offer support.