Sally Leiderman

A veteran of more than 30 years’ work in system reform and change, Sally supports implementation of First Things First and contributes to the development of IRRE’s research capacity. She helps capture, distill and disseminate information about whole-system reform, constituency building, leadership engagement and efforts to bridge the achievement gap.

A co-founder of the Center for Assessment and Policy Development, Sally served as that agency’s executive vice president and then president for 18 years, directing the Philadelphia School Readiness Project. She also staffed the School Readiness Task Force for Children Achieving, the School District of Philadelphia’s K-12 reform framework. She has helped design and oversee school reform efforts in several states, including Connecticut, where she was on the management team for the Children First Initiative, a private-public partnership aimed at improving elementary school outcomes. Her research and writing often focus on how class and race influence systemic change.

Sally holds a bachelor’s degree from Temple University, where she is currently pursuing her doctorate.