Kirsten Daehler Email & Phone Number

Kirsten Daehler is the Director of Science and Engineering at WestEd, the Founder and Director of Making Sense of SCIENCE (MSS), and a Senior Research Associate III. Her work in the field has led to a respectful and impactful model of teacher professional learning that strengthens classroom practices and has a proven track record of increasing student achievement. Her work helps build leadership capacity in districts and regions across the United States to support next generation science learning and engaging STEM education in both formal and out-of-school time settings. At WestEd, Kirsten leads strategic efforts to develop and test novel materials, tools, and educational supports, conduct research and evaluation projects, and provide professional learning and technical assistance to advance science and engineering teaching, learning, and achievement. Her research interests and publications are internationally known and focus on expert teacher knowledge, children’s science thinking, and teacher pedagogical content knowledge. Areas of emphasis include equitable educational practices, data fluency, integration of science and literacy, standards implementation, administrator and leadership development, formative assessment, and program evaluation.As a former chemistry and physics teacher, Kirsten is always a teacher at heart, with a driving passion to transform the way educators learn the complex art of science teaching. In 1994, she served as the lead teacher on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) project, contributing to the development of a national assessment for accomplished high school science teachers. Kirsten holds a BS in chemistry from Wellesley College and an MA in secondary science education from San Francisco State University.

Listed skills include Science Education, Teacher Training, Professional Development Programs, Curriculum Innovation, and 32 others.