Judy Wurtzel is the Senior Director, Education at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. She supports the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation’s efforts to improve K-12 education across the U.S., with a focus on instructional materials, professional learning and parent resources.
Judy has experience in government, philanthropy, associations and nonprofits. Prior to joining the Schusterman Foundation, Judy was a Senior Advisor to the Noyce Foundation supporting grant making in human capital in education and other areas. Previously, Judy served in the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Duncan as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development and as the founding Director for Technical Assistance and Policy in the Department’s new Implementation Support Unit. She also was a Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Education under Secretary Riley.
Judy was Co-Director of the Aspen Institute Program on Education and Society, supporting urban school district leaders, Congressional staff and other decision-makers. Judy has also worked closely with national education associations, serving as Executive Director of the Learning First Alliance, a permanent partnership of over a dozen such groups.
Judy has authored or co-authored numerous reports and studies on education improvement and co-edited Teaching Talent: A Visionary Framework for Human Capital in Education. She currently sits on the boards of ANet and Urban Teachers. Judy started her career in education teaching English as a foreign language in Morocco. She attended Yale College and earned a law degree from NYU Law School.
Current role