Overview
Angela Bowzer leads WestEd’s alignment evaluations, supporting the alignment needs of states and education organizations. As Senior Research Associate in Assessment Research and Innovation, Bowzer transforms alignment evaluation research into practice by applying current knowledge of education system alignment evaluations and peer review needs to the design, development, and direction of WestEd’s alignment study projects.
Bowzer and her team have established processes that they recommend for use during alignment studies, but they understand that there are contexts unique to each state that necessitate modifications or additions to established alignment activities. Therefore, Bowzer works with potential clients to finalize a scope of work based on their needs, be it an independent alignment study for peer review, an alignment verification of curricula or assessments to a set of standards, or recommendations for the grade-level placement of items on a diagnostic test.
As a former high school mathematics teacher in a state with a high-stakes summative assessment, Bowzer understands the importance of ensuring that the components of an assessment system are in alignment. This understanding is visible in her alignment approach, which addresses the relationship between the interpretation of student performance and the learning objectives established during the assessment design and development process. Additionally, her recommendations to clients are in support of strengthening connections among the components of the assessment system and can be used by the client to refine existing assessment processes.
Education
- PhD in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis in mathematics education and a minor in educational policy, University of Missouri
- MS in mathematics, Ohio University
- BA in mathematics and music, Bluffton University
Select Publications
Bowzer, A. D., & Clarke, M. E. (2023). What do we value? Aligning standards, assessments, and curricula. WestEd Bulletin. https://www.wested.org/wested-bulletin/insights-impact/what-do-we-value-aligning-standards-assessments-and-curricula/
Bowzer, A., & Dyke, E. (2023). Educational alignment: Past, present, and potential future (part 1). The Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability at WestEd. https://csaa.wested.org/resource/educational-alignment-past-present-and-potential-future-part-1/
Powers, S., Bowzer, A. D., Lemke, M., Brunetti, M. A., & Gaertner, M. N. (2023). A brief introduction to contemporary standard setting methods. In R. J. Tierney, F. Rizvi, & K. Erkican (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Education (4th ed., pp. 369–380). Elsevier.
Bowzer, A. D., & Hodge, A. (2011, August). The impact of K–12 policy on 14–16+ mathematics education. Presentation at the Mathematical Association of America Annual Conference, Lexington, KY.
Honors, Awards, and Affiliations
Paul D. Hood Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Field, WestEd, 2021
