Jacob Kirksey

Jacob Kirksey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, & Counseling at Texas Tech University’s College of Education. He also serves as Associate Director of the Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education (CIRCLE). His research focuses on education policy, particularly the intersection of public policy and student outcomes in K-12 systems, teacher preparation, and workforce development. Kirksey holds a PhD (2020) in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, alongside a MA (2016) and BA (2015) from Colorado College.

Key research interests include educator labor markets, student absenteeism, and the economic impacts of policy reforms like Texas’ House Bill 5. His work has secured over $15 million in grants, with studies frequently cited in legislative discussions. Notable outputs include analyses of uncertified teacher challenges, the economic benefits of teacher preparation programs, and postsecondary pathways for rural students.

Dr. Kirksey’s findings have been featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times and Associated Press, and he has testified before Texas legislative committees. His research team maintains an open-access repository via CIRCLE, focusing on actionable insights for policymakers.