August 8, 2023 - During June 12, 2023 Board of Education meeting, Dr. Matthew Traughber was approved as the director of evaluation and research. Dr. Traughber previously held the position of evaluation and research associate with Special School District.

“SSD has a small but dynamic evaluation and research division that includes our measurement and assessment coaches,” said Traughber. “ I’m excited to continue partnering with stakeholders to promote positive student outcomes through data-informed decision making. Our division is focused on supporting SSD’s growth as a learning organization.”

The director of evaluation and research supports student success by leading data collection and initiatives, generating District-level program evaluations and reports with monitoring, coordinating external research requests, coordinating pilot studies, and overseeing the management of the District’s data platform.

Traughber previously held the position of evaluation and research administrator. In this role, he managed SSD’s evaluation and research division and collaborated with stakeholders to design and conduct evaluation, program monitoring, and internal research activities. 

Prior to his administrator role, Traughber was a school psychologist and response to intervention (RTI) specialist for SSD serving the Kirkwood School District. Traughber has also taught graduate coursework as an  adjunct professor for Webster University and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

Traughber holds a doctorate in school psychology, a doctoral minor in applied statistics and research methods from the University of Northern Colorado, and a bachelors in sociology from the University of Illinois. Traughber’s research has been published in several periodicals, including Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, and Advances in School Mental Health Promotion.