Jill Pierce

Jill Pierce is a research education analyst at RTI. She is an expert in Pre-K through 12th grade education issues, implementation studies, and qualitative research. Dr. Pierce is passionate about giving voice to how school community members experience education initiatives, providing formative feedback to shape critical education decisions, and crafting actionable products that elevate equity possibilities and concerns. At RTI, she serves as a senior researcher on projects related to equity-focused professional development for school system leaders, culturally responsive teaching, evidence-based reading instruction, and supports for students with Individualized Education Programs. 

Prior to joining RTI in 2023, Dr. Pierce served as a senior research associate with Research for Action, where she led qualitative research and evaluation on mixed-methods projects. In this work, she studied Pre-K curricula, formative assessment in math, arts integration- and STEM-focused professional development initiatives, and supports for schools engaging in innovative teaching and learning practices. She also led work focused on teacher workforce issues (including shortages and inequities), perspectives of Black teachers, and the feasibility of a national lead teacher certification for early childhood educators.