Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D., Lead Developer

Margo Gottlieb is a nationally recognized specialist in the design of assessments for English language learners in pre-K - 12 settings, the evaluation of language educational programs, and the development of English language proficiency standards. She started her career as an English as a second language (ESL) and bilingual teacher. For the past two decades, Margo has consulted with and provided technical assistance to governments, states, school districts, publishers, universities, and professional organizations, and has served on numerous national task forces, expert panels, and technical working groups. She travels extensively, having worked in Brazil, China, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Italy, and Mexico and was a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Chile. In addition, she has presented in such distant places as the United Arab Emirates and Finland, as well as throughout the United States.

As Lead Developer for WIDA, Margo has spearheaded the design and development of the PreK - 12 WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards and has authored the accompanying guides. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) invited her to chair the committee on the national PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards, published in 2006, which is built on the WIDA template. In addition, Margo helps formulate and operationalize the Consortium's vision of creating a comprehensive assessment system of English language proficiency and academic achievement for English language learners.

Margo has a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis, Evaluation Research and Program Design, an M.A. in Applied Linguistics, and a B.A. in the teaching of Spanish. She also serves as Director of Assessment and Evaluation for the Illinois Resource Center and publishes extensively, including assessment instruments, monographs, handbooks, manuals, chapters, and articles. Her most recent works include the ELL Assessment Kit (Rigby, 2007) and written contributions to a comprehensive K-5 ESL program (Rigby, 2004). Her latest books are Assessing English Language Learners: Bridges from Language Proficiency to Academic Achievement (Corwin, 2006) and Assessment and Accountability in Language Education Programs: A Guide for Administrators and Teachers (with Diep Nguyen; Caslon, 2007). Margo thoroughly enjoys being a collaborating member of the WIDA team!

Contact Information: mgottlieb@thecenterweb.org, 224-366-8532

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