Executive Director WIDA | Madison, Wisconsin We are pleased to announce that WIDA has named Dr. Jenni Torres as its new executive director. Based within the University of Wisconsin—Madison’s School of Education, WIDA is the premier educational services organization focused on the advancement of academic language development and academic achievement for multilingual children through its fully integrated, research-based language standards, assessments, professional learning, research, and technical assistance.Bringing more than 25 years of experience in language education, Dr. Torres has leadership experience both in professional learning and multilingual education. Torres currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Waterford.org, where she leads teams across research, curriculum, art, and operations, building family and community partnerships that deliver access, excellence, and equity in early education for all children. Torres is bilingual and has lived and taught around the world, including six U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. She started her career as a language teacher at the elementary and middle school levels before transitioning to work in the ed-tech space. As the newest head of WIDA, she will not only bring her experience in education, but also a strong history of successful product development and a commitment to data-informed decisions that enhance outcomes for multilingual learners and their families. Dr. Torres received her EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy from American University and her MEd from Harvard Graduate School of Education in Teaching & Curriculum with a specialty in world languages. Torres will join WIDA following the remarkable 20-year tenure of founding executive director, Tim Boals, and will lead the organization into its next era of leadership in innovation and educator support. We look forward to WIDA’s continued leadership in supporting the academic success of multilingual learners. Jeff Kessner led this search with Diana Carmona and Jenny Rubin.Read the full press release here.
