Research & Experts

Meet the Experts Behind the School Health Diagnostic

The School Health Diagnostic gives your leadership a credible, board-ready picture of school health and priority risk areas. After completing the diagnostic, schools can then request expert support from one of consultants to interpret results, prioritize corrective action, and accelerate operational improvement.

Dirk DaCosta BSc., CTO, CAIO

Co-Founder, 589 Labs

589 Labs

Dirk DaCosta is the founder of 589 Labs and a technology consultant who helps organizations turn complex business needs into practical solutions. His work spans artificial intelligence, enterprise systems, process improvement, and technology implementation. As Board President of Principal Academy Charter School in New Jersey, he brings a school governance perspective to the challenges facing education leaders. Dirk leads the technology development of MySchoolRx, translating research and educator feedback into tools that help schools and Portfolio organizations assess school health, identify priorities, and guide improvement conversations. He focuses on making technology accessible, useful, and grounded in the decisions leaders need to make. Read my book:

Areas of expertise

Executive analytics for school leadersHealth Diagnostic platform engineeringBoard-ready reportingMulti-tenant SaaS architecture

Credentials

· Co-Founder, 589 Labs
· Health Diagnostic Product Lead

Experience

Leads 589 Labs' work on School Health Diagnostic, Oversight Portal, and the Clarity Assessments suite.

Dr. Ronald Rizzo Ph.D.

Ronald Rizzo

589LABS LLC

Dr. Ronald Rizzo brings more than 46 years of experience in education as a teacher, K–12 administrator, university professor, and charter school leader. He previously served as Director of Charter Schools at Ferris State University, where he founded the School Leadership Institute to support current and aspiring school leaders with practical leadership strategies and professional development. Dr. Rizzo has also contributed to special projects for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers and the U.S. Department of Education. He currently serves as a professor in the Boyer School of Education at William Howard Taft University, where he designs and teaches courses for Doctor of Education candidates.

Areas of expertise

Charter school leader.Previously served as Director of Charter Schools- at Ferris State UniversityFounded the School Leadership Institute

Credentials

· Teacher
· K–12 administrator
· University Professor

Experience

Ronald is also the founder of Dr. RZ Creative Consulting LLC, providing education-focused consulting and leadership support.

More experts will be added as the School Health Diagnostic network grows.

Need expert support after your Health Diagnostic?

Once your School Health Diagnostic is complete, you can request expert support to interpret risk levels, build a corrective action plan, or prepare for an upcoming annual report submission.

Contact our team