Ms. Gilbert is a co-founder of Praxis Research. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master's degree in Educational Research from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has worked in both public school and higher educational research and evaluation settings. Ms. Gilbert is the former secretary of the North Carolina Association of Research in Education.

Dr. Debbie England, Vice-President/Chief Financial Officer

Dr. England received her undergraduate degree in early and middle childhood education from Western Kentucky University and her Masters degree in clinical reading from the University of Louisville. She was awarded her doctorate in educational supervision with a concentration in reading in 1990 from the University of Louisville. She has worked with students pre-kindergarten through grade twelve as a teacher and diagnostician and has been a teacher-educator at the university level.

Dr. Bruce Yelton, Chief Operations Officer

Dr. Yelton received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and his doctoral degree in Educational Research from the University of Louisville in 1992. Dr. Yelton has served in a variety of educational and research capacities during his career including early childhood teacher, program director, program evaluator, Head Start administrator, public school researcher, and Deputy Director of the national "Kindergarten Transitions" study. Dr. Yelton has also served as instructor on the graduate faculty at both the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and Winthrop University.

Grant Morgan, MA, Research Associate

Grant Morgan is a native of Greenville, South Carolina and received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Clemson University. Grant completed his Master’s of Science degree from Western Carolina University in Human Resources Management with emphasis in Organization Development in 2005. He has evaluation experience in academia/education, psychology, and healthcare. He is a project evaluator for the State of North Carolina as a part of a national research project funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. His research has been presented at the International Academy of Human Resources Development Conference, the Organizational Behavior Teachers Conference, and at the International Organization Development Network Conference in Puerto Rico. His work has been published in the journal of the International Leadership Association, in the Academic Exchange Quarterly, in FORUM Magazine, and elsewhere.

Ms. Paula Plonski, MA, Research Associate

Ms. Plonski received her undergraduate degree from University of Kentucky and her master's degree in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her graduate work included the study of social networks, including an extensive background in research methodology. She is currently the coordinator of Even Start evaluation activities for numerous local Even Start projects and produces the state Even Start evaluation report for North Carolina. Her work with Even Start was recently published in the Spring 2004 edition of Family Literacy Forum and presented at the National Conference on Family Literacy. Ms. Plonski is a member of the American Evaluation Association.

Mr. John T. Blair, MPHA Research Associate

Mr. Blair received his B.A. in Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and Master’s in Public Health Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Blair has served in several human service capacities in North Carolina. These include: quality assurance, County Director of Social Services, Privatization and Marketing of Human Services Programs, grant writing, and Executive Director in a non-profit setting.

Mr. Blair was named NC DSS Director of the Year in 1995 by the NC Association of County Commissioners and is a past President of the NC Association of County Directors of Social Services.