Julie Duffield joined WestEd in 1990. She is currently a Research Associate in WestEd’s Comprehensive School Assistance Program (CSAP) where she works for various CSAP’s professional development projects, including managing online events, learning resources, and mentoring networks for WestEd’s SchoolsMovingUp -- a WestEd initiative aimed at serving low-performing schools nationwide.
Duffield has more than 22 years of experience both within and outside of the classroom, including working with diverse learners. Starting in the early 1980’s she provided technical assistance to educators on Language Arts for English Language Learners in remote rural communities, using technology to support professional development. As well, she has worked on State and Federal initiatives to apply technology to support student learning. As a member of Distance Learning Resource Network she was an early adopter of online learning including using technology in teacher professional development.
Most recently Duffield managed the Access and Equity strand of the Regional Technology in Educational Consortium (RTEC) where she highlighted best practices of differentiated instruction and technology to support diverse learners in reading and writing skills. As such, she is a strong advocate for assistive technology and fostered partnerships with groups like Alliance for Technology Access to connect children with disabilities and their families to technology.
Also, Duffield is been part of an evaluation of Schools Attuned, a teacher professional development program in which teachers learn how to manage student differences. She also oversees the Technology for Diverse Learners web site and is a blogger n the The Infinite Thinking Machine (ITM) which is designed to help teachers and students thrive in the 21st century.
She also works on school improvement issues and has been a member of school improvement teams.
Duffield received a BA in psychology from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, a teaching diploma from Kedron College, Brisbane, Australia, and a technology in education certificate from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
