Amber Valdez

Overview

As a Senior Manager for WestEd’s Center for Education Systems, Amber Valdez leads work at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and systems change, partnering with state and local leaders to navigate complex challenges and translate policy and vision into action.

Valdez directs and advises on state and local systems transformation initiatives across education, health, and human development, serving as a trusted advisor, facilitator, and coach to system leaders. She has led several complex statewide initiatives, including two state-mandated workgroups on California’s school-based Medicaid system and the transition of 3-year-old children with disabilities between IDEA programs. She also led development of a participatory systems change framework adopted by California’s Community Engagement Initiative to strengthen community engagement practices across schools and districts.

Valdez currently serves as Northwest Subregion Lead for the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center and as Senior Advisor for the statewide evaluation of California’s Behavioral Health Student Services Act.

Before joining WestEd, Valdez consulted on strategy, organizational development, and leadership, and served in executive leadership with the Oakland Public Education Fund.

Valdez earned an M.A. and EdD in Educational Leadership from Mills College and is a certified Improvement Coach through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Education

• EdD in educational leadership, Mills College  
• MA in educational leadership, Mills College  
• BA in women’s studies, minor in ethnic studies, Mills College  

Select Publications

Valdez, A., Bell, A., Derby, K., Dolle, J., Fitzpatrick, R., Rovins, M., Walrond, N., & Willis, J. (2024). Systems change at WestEd: Six guiding principles. WestEd. 

Valdez, A., Walrond, N., & Cerna, R. (2024). Essential conditions for advancing and sustaining cross-sector collaboration: A reflection guide for child-, youth-, and family-serving agencies. California Center for School Climate at WestEd. 

Valdez, A., Cerna, R., & Hashmi, S. (2023). Participatory systems change for equity: An inquiry guide for child-, youth-, and family-serving agencies. California Center for School Climate & Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety. WestEd. 

Valdez, A., Hashmi, S., & Diaz, J. (2023). Advancing and sustaining student and staff wellbeing initiatives: A resource guide for states. The Council of Chief State School Officers and WestEd. 

Romer, N., Valdez, A., Alcalá, L., Diaz, J., Gurrola, E., McClellan, P., & McCullough, S. (2022). Improving coordination and access to comprehensive school-based mental health services in California: A preliminary landscape analysis. WestEd. 

Bowman, A., Valdez, A., Krausen, K., & Donahue, C. (2021). Getting better at getting more equitable: Addressing racial inequities in education using equity-driven continuous improvement. WestEd. 

California Department of Education, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, & WestEd. (2020). Serving students with disabilities: A resource for assessing the basic components of your special education infrastructure. WestEd. 

Valdez, A., Takahashi, S., Krausen, K., Bowman, A., & Gurrola, E. (2020). Getting better at getting more equitable: Opportunities and barriers for using continuous improvement to advance educational equity. WestEd.

Honors, Awards, and Affiliations

Ed Myers Award for Exceptional Contribution to the WestEd Community