The American Institutes for Research announced last week that it was acquiring the McKenzie Group, an educational consulting firm.
The Washington-based nonprofit research organization said the move would allow it to better serve urban school districts interested in systemic reform.
Founded in 1988 by Floretta Dukes McKenzie, a former superintendent of the District of Columbia public schools, the McKenzie Group has been working for the National Science Foundation, providing technical assistance for its systemic initiatives, among other projects.
Last spring, the air announced a merger with New American Schools of Alexandria, Va., which has helped spearhead schools’ adoption of comprehensive improvement programs. The merger is expected to be completed by January.
In addition, the air has hired several prominent district-level educators, including Steven Adamowski, the former head of the Cincinnati public schools; Libia Socorro Gil, the former superintendent of the Chula Vista, Calif., schools; and Joseph Olchefske, the former chief of the Seattle schools, the company said last week.
