Get to Know Xcalibur: Meet Aly
This blog is the first in a series where we hope you’ll get to know the real people behind Xcalibur — the ones behind your SCRIBE login, evaluation report, Excel course, or conference session. However you’ve connected with us, we’re excited to share more about the team that makes it all happen.
Aly’s Journey to Xcalibur
At Xcalibur, we believe data tells a story — and few people tell that story with as much heart as Aly Cropley, one of our Evaluation Specialists. From her snowy home in northern Maine, Aly supports GEAR UP programs across the country, helping them uncover insights that show just how much their work matters.
Aly joined Xcalibur in September 2021 after several years with GEAR UP Maine, where she served as a data coordinator. Before that, she worked in a GEAR UP school as an administrative assistant in the special education department.
She holds an associate degree from Kaplan University, a bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Elms College, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Data Visualization and Representation at the University of Maine at Augusta.
Making an Impact Through Evaluation
Aly’s day-to-day work includes “a whole lot of emails and a ton of spreadsheets,” but what really excites her is when data starts telling a story.
“Sometimes I think I know what the story will say before I start analyzing,” she said, “and then something totally different pops up. Seeing clients recognize that story — seeing that lightbulb moment — that’s my favorite part.”
One project she’s especially proud of is Xcalibur’s partnership with the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) on the Annual Performance Report (APR) and Final Performance Report (FPR) Technical Manuals. NCCEP invited a select group of experienced GEAR UP professionals to develop guidance to help grants complete their required federal reports, and Aly served as a key member of the working group for both manuals.
“It grounded my understanding of what each reporting element truly means,” Aly said. “And now anyone can access it on the Quad. It goes back to Xcalibur’s mission — empowering educators to use data, whether that’s for compliance or beyond.”
Aly says that’s what sets Xcalibur apart — the way data and passion come together.
“There’s something different about how we approach evaluation,” she explained. “We meet our clients where they are, and it’s not just about reporting the APR because it’s required. It’s about using the passion of the people with boots on the ground and marrying that with what we see in the data to show the program’s impact. That makes a difference — not just for participants, but for communities and stakeholders who see that GEAR UP truly works.”
Sharpening Her Sword
Xcalibur has a strong culture of continuous learning — or as Aly calls it, “wanting to know all the things, all the time.” Right now, she’s sharpening her sword through her graduate certificate program, where she’s learning to merge the analytical with the artistic.
“I took a storytelling-with-data art class that pushed me way out of my comfort zone,” she said. “It made me rethink how visuals can connect with audiences who might not speak the language of charts and bars.”
Aly credits data visualization experts Stephanie Evergreen and Alli Torban (author of Chart Spark) for shaping her perspective: “They helped me see data as something that can be both rigorous and creative.”
Aly’s next professional goals include learning more about path analysis. Path analysis is an advanced statistical method that helps evaluators look beyond whether a program works to understand how it works — identifying the relationships between activities, student experiences, and outcomes.
“Julie on our team is a pro at path analysis, and I can’t wait to learn from her,” she said. “It’s a way to connect the dots between things like mentoring, advising, and college enrollment — to actually see which pieces of GEAR UP are driving results.”
She added that this kind of analysis helps take GEAR UP evaluation “to the next level,” revealing not only impact but the pathways that lead there.
“We all bring different strengths, and that’s what makes Xcalibur work — we learn from each other.”
Life Beyond Data
When she’s not deep in spreadsheets, Aly’s life looks a little different — and a lot more rural. She lives with her family on an old farm property near the Canadian border, where they raise chickens, grow fruits and vegetables, and spend plenty of time outdoors.
“We live super rural — an hour from the nearest Walmart,” she laughed. “Sometimes we have pigs on our farm in addition to chickens, and we grow raspberries, peaches, plums, grapes, apples — all the things.”
She’s also an avid crafter with five sewing machines, two closets full of yarn and fabric, and a love for quilting and crochet.
And if you ever find yourself in a Disney trivia showdown, consider yourself warned.
“I’m a huge Disney fanatic — Aladdin is my favorite, and I’ll win any trivia contest,” she said. “Robin Williams will always be Genie in my heart.”
Sports are another passion. Aly describes herself as “very competitive” and loves watching her kids play basketball. “There’s nothing better than seeing your kids challenged and growing through sports,” she said.
What Makes Xcalibur Different
If Aly had to describe Xcalibur in three words, she’d choose family, compassionate, and innovative.
“We meet clients where they are,” she said. “It’s not just about compliance. It’s about helping them see the impact of their work. That mix of passion and data — that’s what makes us different.”
She’s especially excited for the upcoming Xcalibur Conference in Savannah this May.
“There’s something special about seeing all our clients together — learning and laughing in the same space. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job.”
Closing
Aly’s energy and curiosity capture what Xcalibur is all about: blending expertise with empathy, and using data to empower those making a difference.
“Anytime you give the power of data to the people doing the work — that’s powerful,” she said.