He completed his PhD in Leadership and Policy Studies with a doctoral minor in Quantitative Methods at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College. His research focuses on the way in which school policy influences student safety and educational outcomes with an emphasis on equitable outcomes for at-risk student populations. Currently, he is conducting work on zero tolerance discipline policies and on issues of teacher victimization. In addition to his work on issues of adolescent violence and victimization, he also studies early childhood policy, teacher labor markets, and principal hiring. Prior to his work in academia, he served as a middle school science teacher and department chair.