SCOTT W. TALKINGTON
19342 Belleau Woods Dr., Apt. K102
Triangle, VA 22172
(703) 441-0522
talkings@gmu.edu
EDUCATION
1998 Ph.D. in Public Policy
The School of Public Policy, George Mason University
Dissertation: Influence of Political Values and Campaign Contributions in 1996 Congressional Elections
1991 MBA for Business, Government and Not-for-Profit Management
Atkinson Graduate School of Management / Willamette University
1982 BS, Design Science
Columbia Pacific University
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
2003-Present Arizona Department of Education
Data management and statistical analysis to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status, funding, and other school resources on student achievement. The analysis employs separate analyses of elementary, middle and secondary schools and uses several standardized reading and math tests as measures of achievement (AIMS, MAP and SAT9). School resource variables include expenditures (federal, state and local), teacher salary, class size, and several teacher quality indicators (education, certification, experience). Measures of teacher quality are aggregated from staff files.
2001-2002 Florida State Department of Education
Conducted data management and statistical analysis to determine the impact of school resources and teacher and student characteristics on student achievement throughout the state of Florida. The analysis included creating a comprehensive data source, and charting SES adjusted math and reading scores by various resource and control variables: class size, pupil teacher ratio, teacher education and experience, and per pupil expenditures.
1998-2001 New York State Office of Attorney General
Worked with a large team of researchers to set up and conduct district, school and student level production study analyses of the largest school system in the nation, with about 3 million students. The analysis utilized state and local achievement tests in order to determine the impact of variations in school funding. Independent variables included teacher certification, education and experience, per pupil expenditure (instructional), classroom size, pupil/teacher ratio and free/reduced lunch. Data for individual level analysis included test scores for grades 6 & 8 in New York City using CAT and CTB tests. These data also allowed the use of reference 2nd or 3rd grade scores from the CAT or DRP in a longitudinal analysis. A statewide individual database, employing test data from the Pupil Evaluation Program for Reading and Math for grades 3 and 6 was also analyzed.
1997-2000 Minnesota Office of Attorney General
Conducted dropout and magnet school studies for the St. Paul school district using the data repository for Minnesota The analysis also involved aggregation of teacher and student data to the school and district level to determine the relationship between school resources and various student outcomes, measured in terms of test performance and by end status category.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS (School of Public Policy)
With Prof. David Armor
Education Policy 1995-1998: Worked on an analysis of the effects of school integration and race on educational achievement. Co-authored a report to the National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education. This work involved analysis of NAEP studies from 1988 to 1994 on race and achievement, as well as parental education, residence status, and socioeconomic conditions in the home and neighborhood. Techniques included multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance (see publications list.)
With Prof. Seymour Martin Lipset
Labor and Industrial Policy 1995-1998: Worked on a three year project contributing to the design and statistical analysis of a survey comparing US and Canadian values and attitudes about unionism. Participated in meetings on survey design (choice, placement, and wording of survey items). Carried out analyses of survey data using a variety of statistical methodologies, including multiple regression and factor analysis.
With Prof. Roger Stough & Prof. Jonathan Gifford
Transportation Policy and Technology 1992-1994: Projects examining the implementation of transportation legislation and on a road-pricing model using data on tolls and traffic over the Golden Gate Bridge. Conducted structured interviews with principals from local and state government, citizen groups, lobbyists, and legislative offices concerning the history and implementation of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Synthesized and interpreted these responses to create hypotheses about the future of transportation and the responsibilities of local, state, and federal governments. Constructed a road pricing model to accommodate serial autocorrelation, using SAS as the primary statistical package. The resulting econometric model was used to determine demand elasticity, and day-of-week cross elasticities for toll prices.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2000 (Summer) George Mason University
Introduction to Database Management (MIS 310): Practical use of database models in business and public policy focusing on relational database and SQL in MS Access and Oracle.
1996 (Spring) George Mason University
Public Administration and Decision Making (GOV 241-005): Complex problem solving and decision making in a group context.
1991 (Spring) Western Oregon State College
Introductory course in Organizational Behavior (two sections).
Introduction to International Management.
NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS
1982-1986 The Icarus Corporation - Salem, OR
Research and Development
Helped establish an electronics and satellite communications firm.
1986-1990 Oregon Fair Share - Salem, OR
Field Manager and Canvass Director
Managed a field canvass and grassroots fundraising operation. During the same period also acted as campaign manager for state and national candidates.
PUBLICATIONS
Gifford, Jonathan L., William J. Mallet, and Scott W. Talkington. 1994. "Implementing Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991: Issues and Early Field Data." Transportation Research Record 1466.
Gifford, Jonathan L., and Scott W. Talkington. 1994a. "The Impact of Regional Planning and ISTEA on the Implementation of Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems." Pp. 216 in Moving Toward Deployment. Washington, DC: IVHS America.
Gifford, Jonathan L., and Scott W. Talkington. 1996. "Demand Elasticity Under Time-Varying Prices: A Case Study of Day-Of-Week Varying Tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge." Transportation Research Record 1558.
Gifford, Jonathan L., and Scott W. Talkington. “Demand Elasticity Under Time Varying Prices: A Case Study of the Golden Gate Bridge.” Pp. 503 in Moving Toward Deployment. Washington, DC: IVHS America.
Talkington, Scott. 1993. “Reveille for the Middle Class: A Case Study of Oregon Fair Share.” in Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management Case Study Collection, edited by Kenneth G. Koziol. San Francisco, CA: University of San Francisco.
REPORTS
Armor, David J. and Scott W. Talkington. 1998. Educational Adequacy in the St. Paul School District. Prepared for the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General.
Armor, David J, and Scott W. Talkington. 1996. "Race and Socioeconomic Effects on Academic Achievement." . Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress Data Reporting Program.
AWARDS/HONORS
1993-1998 George Mason Graduate Fellowship, Atkinson Graduate Fellowship
1990-1992 Willamette University Graduate Honors Writing Tutor
1986 Semi-Finalist, Christian Science Monitor Essay Contest
COMPUTER SKILLS
Statistical Applications: STATA, SAS, SPSS, Minitab
Other Applications: Spreadsheets (MS_Excel, Lotus, QuattroPro), Relational Databases and SQL (Paradox, MS_Access, Oracle), Word Processors (WordPerfect, MS_Word), Presentation and Publication Graphics. Web Page Design and HTML Formatting
Computer Languages: Assembly Language, Basic, other higher level languages (including FORTRAN), various macro languages.
Platforms: Windows (9x, 2000, XP), Linux, Unix.