Jill Wertheim

Jill Wertheim currently serves as Director of SCALE Science at WestEd, where she specializes in advancing science education through innovative assessment practices. Her work focuses on building school, district, and statewide capacity to enhance student learning through student-centered, asset-based assessment approaches. Previously, she served as Program Director at the Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity (SCALE), where she led the Stanford NGSS Assessment Project (SNAP). Her expertise centers on developing performance assessments that support the implementation of new science standards aligned with the Framework for K-12 Science Education. She has pioneered the development of exemplar performance assessments, rubrics, and professional learning tools, while focusing on identifying and removing barriers to students' understanding of core science concepts. Dr. Wertheim holds a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences and a BA in Geology from Middlebury College, bringing a unique blend of scientific expertise and educational assessment knowledge to her work in transforming science education.