By Ali Manion During my years as a teacher, I frequently found myself stymied by the educational research that occasionally floated across my cluttered desk—or, by the data-drenched research that was frequently shared at staff meetings. It was often dense and jargon-y, requiring more effort than I was usually able or prepared to give after a long day in my classroom. Yes, research is absolutely essential in order to help move our educational system forward and to ensure class