A Senior Research Associate for WestEd's Comprehensive School Assistance Program, Sharon Tucker specializes in school- and district-wide improvements that increase education opportunities for students.

She develops workshops and provides technical assistance on curriculum standards, assessment, and accountability. In addition, she was selected as an External Entity lead by several California districts in the State Department of Education's Program Improvement program. This program, serving districts enrolling 20,000 to 25,000 students, focuses on systemic improvements that increase student achievement, particularly for special education and English learners. Tucker's work has resulted in measurable improvements in standards-based assessments, special education program design, principals' effectiveness, and classroom instructional practice.

Tucker also serves as Associate Director for WestEd's California Comprehensive Center (CA CC). Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the CA CC builds state capacity to implement fully the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, improve student achievement, and close achievement gaps. Tucker and her CA CC colleagues provide assistance to the California Department of Education and other state agencies, as well as to statewide groups and organizations that help districts and schools implement NCLB.

She is a member of WestEd's DistrictsMovingUp team, a comprehensive, coherent, and intensive process that ensures improved student achievement. Tucker and colleagues work collaboratively with district stakeholders to provide customized, research-based solutions that meet the needs of districts.

Prior to joining WestEd, Tucker served as Superintendent of the Fairfield-Suisun (CA) Unified School District, a K-adult urban district enrolling 25,000 students. During Tucker's seven-year tenure as superintendent, the district improved its student achievement scores, implemented a standards-based curriculum and assessment system, and built or replaced nine schools.

Tucker also held leadership positions in both urban and rural settings, serving as deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent, and elementary and secondary school principal. She began her education career as a special education, bilingual immersion, and general education classroom teacher and served as a reading specialist under the Miller-Unruh Basic Reading Act.

In addition, Tucker has an extensive background in higher education. She helped initiate the College Counseling Program at the University of California, Riverside (UCR); collaborated on organizational development at UCR, California State University, Fresno, and Chapman University; and taught university classes in school administration, and the history and design of curriculum.

Active in local children's mental health initiatives and the Solano County California Library Foundation, Tucker is the Chair for Solano County’s First Five Commission.

She received a BA in history from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and an MA in curriculum and instruction and PhD in educational policy and administration from the University of California, Riverside.