Leslie Poynor

Overview

Leslie Poynor serves as the statewide Director of Technical Assistance for the California School Climate, Health, and Learning Survey System (CalSCHLS), the largest statewide survey of resiliency, protective factors, and risk behaviors in the nation.

This California Department of Education-funded survey system has led to a better understanding of the relationship between school climate and academic performance and is frequently cited by national and international researchers, state policymakers, and the media. Poynor speaks on the importance of CalSCHLS data for promoting social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being and academic excellence for all students from a variety of economic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Poynor provides or directs technical assistance for schools, districts, county offices of education, county and state prevention programs, community-based organizations, and other education partners in California.

As a Research Associate at WestEd, Poynor oversees the development of services and products related to survey data collection, analysis, and application to create safe, supportive, engaging, and equitable teaching and learning conditions in school districts across California.

Education

• PhD in curriculum and instruction, bilingual education, and language and literacy, Arizona State University, Tempe 
• MA in early childhood education, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 
• BS in early childhood education, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Select Publications

Huynh, C., Guidi, C., Stern, A., Cerna, R., & Poynor, L. (2024). Supporting school climate efforts: How California districts are using school climate survey results. California Center for School Climate, WestEd. https://wested2024.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/30162749/CCSC-Brief-School-Climate-Efforts-How-California-Districts-ADA-FINAL.pdf  

Poynor, L. (2024). California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS)/Behavioral Health: How to partner with districts to collect data. California Department of Healthcare Services Substance Use Disorders Conference, Long Beach, CA. 

Poynor, L. (2024). California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS): What do students tell us about their vaping, cannabis, and tobacco/nicotine use? [Webinar]. 5th Annual Cannabis Awareness and Prevention Conference, Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education, Palo Alto, CA. 

Poynor, L. (2024). The impact of one: What does student survey data tell us about the role of caring educators? [Presentation]. OC-LA Prevention Summit, Anaheim, CA. 

Poynor, L. (2023). Beyond LCAP compliance: Disaggregating your California Healthy Kids Survey data to improve school climate [Webinar]. California Center for School Climate, WestEd. https://ca-safe-supportive-schools.wested.org/event/beyond-lcap-compliance-disaggregating-your-california-healthy-kids-survey-data-to-improve-school-climate/ 

Poynor, L. (2023). Substance use, mental health, and engagement: What the California Healthy Kids Survey tells us [Presentations]. Community Prevention Initiative, Sacramento, CA.