Jo MacDonald

Kairangahau Matua | Senior Researcher
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sector Evaluation (Distinction)
  • MA in Education (first class)
  • Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
  • BA-Sociology 

Jo has a keen interest and expertise in policy and programme evaluation and is one of NZCER’s lead evaluators. Since 2019 she has led a growing portfolio of evaluation focused on financial capability programmes for Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission.  Jo is experienced with using diverse evaluation methodologies,and applying evaluative reasoning to reach evaluative judgements. In either research or evaluation contexts, she particularly enjoys building strong, productive relationships  with clients.

Jo's research interests are wide-ranging, and her ability to quickly adapt to new contexts is a strength. At NZCER she has worked on projects in the areas of financial capability, professional learning and development, school leadership, early career teachers, NCEA, special education, and student health and wellbeing. For many years, Jo led NZCER's coordination of the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative, a contestable research fund that NZCER manages for the Ministry of Education.

Jo has over 25 years’ experience in education and educational research, including a decade working in research and evaluation in the government sector in New Zealand and Scotland.

Publications

Secondary principals’ perspectives from NZCER's 2022 National Survey of Schools Research publication 2023
Sorted in Schools, Te whai hua – kia ora 2022/23 evaluation report Research publication 2023
Evaluation of the Sorted Pacific Peoples Pathways to Home Ownership (PPPH) programme Research publication 2022
Sorted in Schools, Te whai hua – kia ora: 2021/2022 evaluation report Research publication 2022
Sorted in Schools, Te whai hua – kia ora 2020/21 evaluation report Research publication 2021
Sorted in Schools, Te whai hua – kia ora! 2019/20 evaluation report Research publication 2020
What’s happening in our English-medium primary schools: Findings from the NZCER national survey 2019 Full report Research publication 2020
Women becoming secondary school leaders: Barriers, supports, and enablers Research publication 2020
The overall evaluative conclusion as an element of evaluation practice Journal article 2019
Challenges for initial teacher education in the context of 'twenty-first century' learning imperatives Research publication 2018
Fire safety in schools, kura, ECE centres, and kohanga reo: Looking to the future Research publication 2018
Enriching the wellbeing of young adolescents in secondary school Research publication 2018
Creating a space for student voice in an educational evaluation Research publication 2018
Reviewing the game plan: What can be learnt from the first year of Play.sport? Research publication 2017
High quality practica and the integration of theory and practice in initial teacher education Research publication 2017
Formative evaluation of the Principal Recruitment Allowance Research publication 2017
Final Evaluation Report for the Teach First NZ programme pilot: Delivered in partnership with the University of Auckland Research publication 2017
Reflecting on evaluation practice by considering an educative values-engaged approach: How would it have changed this utilisation-focused evaluation? Research publication 2017
Reflecting on evaluation practice by considering an educative values-engaged approach: How would it have changed this utilisation-focused evaluation? Journal article 2017
2015 Annual Evaluation Report for the Teach First NZ programme pilot delivered in partnership with the University of Auckland Research publication 2016