Prior to joining WestEd in 2006, Peterson was Statewide Director of Teacher Education, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dean of Faculty at Sierra Nevada College. From 1994 to 2000, she served as Nevada's Superintendent of Public Instruction. During her tenure, the state developed and implemented statewide academic content standards, as well as a more comprehensive assessment and accountability system. Previously, she held other leadership positions in the Nevada Department of Education, including Deputy for Instructional, Research and Evaluative Services, and Statewide Director of Title I. Peterson has served on the Board of Directors of the Council of Chief State School Officers and WestEd. She also was a State Commissioner to the Education Commission of the States. She began her career teaching junior and senior high school English, and was principal of a small, private K-8 school in rural Idaho. In 1997 and 2003, Peterson was awarded the Nevada Women's Fund Woman of Achievement Award, and in 1996 the Outstanding Woman Award by the Nevada Attorney General's Office. Peterson received a BA in English from Carleton College and an MA in teaching from Duke University. Her education also includes doctoral studies in cultural foundations of education/educational administration from the University of Utah, where she was inducted into the graduate Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Joseph Sassone, Senior Program Associate

Joe Sassone joined WestEd's Local Accountability Professional Development Series (LAPDS) in 2006, bringing his comprehensive expertise in building effective school intervention systems. As Assistant Superintendent of Vail (Arizona) Unified School District, he led a district-wide accountability reform initiative that resulted in statewide awards for improved student achievement. Under Sassone’s leadership, the district established essential standards K-12 in reading, math, writing, science, social studies, and technology; developed proficiency levels to measure student progress; implemented benchmark assessments in reading, math, science, and writing for grades 2 through 10; established school-wide common formative assessments in reading and math for grades K through 12; implemented re-teach and enrichment programs at the elementary, middle and high school level; developed school-level accountability for students at risk of failure; developed model products in reading and language arts aligned with NAEP; created an Achievement Teacher position for every school in the district to facilitate data team meetings; and implemented a district-wide Response To Intervention (RTI) model aligned to essential standards with the special education department. He has held additional positions in multiple districts nationwide, including assistant principal, school counselor, special education teacher, and district director of human resources.

Sharon Tucker, Senior Program Associate

Sharon Tucker specializes in school wide and district wide improvements that increase educational opportunities for students. Tucker develops workshops and provides technical assistance on curriculum standards, assessment, and accountability for WestEd's California Comprehensive Center. She also serves as an external entity for the No Child Left Behind Act District Improvement process. Her work helps district and school leaders establish systems that increase educational opportunities for students, particularly English learners and other students with special needs. Prior to joining WestEd, she was Superintendent of the Fairfield-Suisun, California Unified School District, a K-adult school district with an enrollment of 25,000 students in an urban setting. She has held several leadership positions in rural and suburban settings, including serving as deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent positions as well as elementary and middle school principal. Tucker began her education career as a classroom teacher, serving in many capacities including special education, bilingual immersion, and general education classrooms. She also served as a reading specialist under the Miller-Unruh Basic Reading Act.