Penelope Bender

Dr. Penelope Bender is the Lead for All Children Reading (Goal 1) on the Basic Education team in the Office of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Teaching, Curriculum and Education Policy from Michigan State University and a Master's degree in International Education from Harvard University. She has extensive experience in international education focusing on instruction, teacher professional development and support, curriculum, assessment and language of instruction. As the Goal 1 Lead at USAID, she provides technical leadership and strategic support to more than 40 USAID Goal 1 countries, focusing on effective program design, implementation and evaluation to improve children's reading outcomes. Prior to joining USAID, she worked with the Hewlett Foundation-Gates Foundation Quality Education in Developing Countries initiative, developing assessment, programming and accountability reforms focused on improving student learning outcomes. She also has extensive experience with the World Bank, working primarily in West and Central Africa and in Haiti on education access, quality, governance and finance.