Jennifer Marcella-Burdett is a Senior Research Associate at WestEd. She co-directs an evaluation of the California Statewide Early Math Initiative. Additionally, she is a lead content developer for the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning, a project funded by Head Start to promote the implementation of research-based practices that lead to positive child outcomes in early childhood programs.
Prior to this role, Marcella-Burdett contributed to First 5 California’s Early Education Effectiveness Exchange (E4). She created professional development resources focusing on intentional interactions in teaching. She has also helped write a research article describing the psychometric properties of the Program for Infant/Toddler Care Program Assessment Rating Scale.
Before joining WestEd, Marcella-Burdett worked on research projects studying children’s early learning experiences within their homes and child care settings. She has published articles in Early Education and Development, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, and the Handbook of Research Methods in Early Childhood Education. She began working in the field as a teacher caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in a variety of early childhood programs.
Marcella-Burdett received a BA in psychology with minors in Spanish and applied developmental psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned an MA and PhD in human development and psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.