Krista Murphy serves as the Director for WestEd’s Early Childhood Integrated Systems (ECIS) work. She is a national expert in early learning and care systems that advance equitable opportunity and outcomes for children, families, and the workforce. Murphy provides strategic planning and technical assistance support to state and local leaders, uniting research, community engagement, and policy landscapes to deliver cross-sector systems change.
Murphy’s specific projects include equity-based quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) revision, public workgroup facilitation and report development for state agencies engaged in alternative methodology, equity-based QRIS revision, and workforce certification. She also leads the creation of professional learning systems for home-based, center-based, and agency staff on play-based learning, social-emotional development, culturally and linguistically affirming practices, DEIB, and communities of practice.
Prior to joining WestEd in 2020, Murphy developed and led a cross-sector QRIS in Orange County, California, and provided strategic planning and facilitation to Southern California regional QRIS leads. Murphy has served as a governing board member for NAEYC, where she contributed to the revised Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education position statements.
Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in child development from California State University, Fullerton; a master of education in cross-cultural education from National University; and a California Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential.