Bryan Hemberg

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT BRYAN HEMBERG

Education leader with 20+ years driving systemic change through innovative assessment design, policy implementation, and capacity building. I lead WestEd\'s Assessment for Learning initiatives, helping states, districts, and schools harness evidence to increase student agency and improve learning outcomes for all students, especially those traditionally underserved.As Director of the Center on Standards, Assessment, & Accountability (CSAA) at WestEd, I amplify the organization\'s knowledge and expertise in these critical areas while providing strategic guidance to states and districts on assessment, accountability, and teaching and learning systems. Through this role, I partner with federal agencies, state departments, and local education agencies to design and implement balanced and coherent standards, assessment, and accountability systems.Key achievements include generating $50+ million in new funding, leading teams managing $9.6+ million in annual budgets, and receiving the Ed Myers Award for outstanding leadership. I built the Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability website, reaching annual visitors and securing significant partnerships, including an $8.6M California assessment contract. Our Formative Assessment Insights work received international recognition from the HundrEd Foundation.My expertise spans assessment system design, federal education policy, technical assistance, project management, accountability implementation, research methodologies, student-centered reform, and cross-sector collaboration. I author publications and deliver presentations on assessment literacy, formative assessment, and education policy at national conferences.I began as a special education teacher through Teach for America, serving students in Los Angeles. This classroom experience grounds my work in real educator challenges. I\'ve held progressive leadership roles at UCLA\'s CRESST, American Institutes for Research, and WestEd.Education: MA Special Education, Loyola Marymount University; BA Psychology, University of Michigan; PMI Certified.Let\'s connect if you\'re passionate about transforming assessment from a compliance tool to a learning accelerator, building educator capacity for evidence-based decisions, creating opportunities for all students, and bridging research, policy, and practice in education.