Laura Smith, MA
Senior Director, ISEE Program at ERB- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Beth Hart
I've had the pleasure of working with Laura for a few years, and in that time she has flourished as an assessment designer and leader. I first started working with Laura when she volunteered to help out with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. The project required training and reviewing the work of inexperienced outside item writers on a large scale as this was the initial build for the Evidence Based Reading and Writing practice content. Laura brought not only skill as a passage and item reviewer, but also initiated improved processes and conducted analyses (e.g., monitoring passage approval rate) without being asked. This is why when I learned that she would be applying for the humanities assessment lead on the newly formed Pre-AP Assessment team I'd be managing, I was thrilled. I fully trusted Laura to design and develop both formative and summative assessments for World History and Geography, English 1, and English 2. As the Pre-AP program has evolved, I've watched Laura take on more and more responsibility. She became the authoritative voice for humanities assessments both internally and with our vendor. Again, she implemented new processes to streamline our work such as rolling passage submissions to mitigate the lengthy startup time devoted to sourcing and careful training of independent contractors to meet needs that our vendor could not. Laura combines excellent and traditional test development training with innovation and creativity. She rose to the challenge of creating digital first assessments for Pre-AP while holding those assessments to the high standards of more established exams such as SAT and AP. Any assessment program would benefit and improve with Laura at its helm.
Nancy Lee
Laura was my manager when I started as an Assessment Specialist for the Reading team at the College Board. It was clear from day one just how much experience and knowledge Laura has in the field of assessment - a true role model. She was incredibly generous with her time as she patiently taught me important elements of item writing and helped me through many drafts of my work. In addition, Laura was a wonderful manager - no matter how busy we were, she checked in with me every week to see how I was doing, what areas I wanted to improve on, and if I needed help with anything. She doesn't micromanage - rather she has a very organic style that always made me feel I was being developed and supported fully. Any team would be lucky to have her.
Beth Hart
I've had the pleasure of working with Laura for a few years, and in that time she has flourished as an assessment designer and leader. I first started working with Laura when she volunteered to help out with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. The project required training and reviewing the work of inexperienced outside item writers on a large scale as this was the initial build for the Evidence Based Reading and Writing practice content. Laura brought not only skill as a passage and item reviewer, but also initiated improved processes and conducted analyses (e.g., monitoring passage approval rate) without being asked. This is why when I learned that she would be applying for the humanities assessment lead on the newly formed Pre-AP Assessment team I'd be managing, I was thrilled. I fully trusted Laura to design and develop both formative and summative assessments for World History and Geography, English 1, and English 2. As the Pre-AP program has evolved, I've watched Laura take on more and more responsibility. She became the authoritative voice for humanities assessments both internally and with our vendor. Again, she implemented new processes to streamline our work such as rolling passage submissions to mitigate the lengthy startup time devoted to sourcing and careful training of independent contractors to meet needs that our vendor could not. Laura combines excellent and traditional test development training with innovation and creativity. She rose to the challenge of creating digital first assessments for Pre-AP while holding those assessments to the high standards of more established exams such as SAT and AP. Any assessment program would benefit and improve with Laura at its helm.
Nancy Lee
Laura was my manager when I started as an Assessment Specialist for the Reading team at the College Board. It was clear from day one just how much experience and knowledge Laura has in the field of assessment - a true role model. She was incredibly generous with her time as she patiently taught me important elements of item writing and helped me through many drafts of my work. In addition, Laura was a wonderful manager - no matter how busy we were, she checked in with me every week to see how I was doing, what areas I wanted to improve on, and if I needed help with anything. She doesn't micromanage - rather she has a very organic style that always made me feel I was being developed and supported fully. Any team would be lucky to have her.
Beth Hart
I've had the pleasure of working with Laura for a few years, and in that time she has flourished as an assessment designer and leader. I first started working with Laura when she volunteered to help out with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. The project required training and reviewing the work of inexperienced outside item writers on a large scale as this was the initial build for the Evidence Based Reading and Writing practice content. Laura brought not only skill as a passage and item reviewer, but also initiated improved processes and conducted analyses (e.g., monitoring passage approval rate) without being asked. This is why when I learned that she would be applying for the humanities assessment lead on the newly formed Pre-AP Assessment team I'd be managing, I was thrilled. I fully trusted Laura to design and develop both formative and summative assessments for World History and Geography, English 1, and English 2. As the Pre-AP program has evolved, I've watched Laura take on more and more responsibility. She became the authoritative voice for humanities assessments both internally and with our vendor. Again, she implemented new processes to streamline our work such as rolling passage submissions to mitigate the lengthy startup time devoted to sourcing and careful training of independent contractors to meet needs that our vendor could not. Laura combines excellent and traditional test development training with innovation and creativity. She rose to the challenge of creating digital first assessments for Pre-AP while holding those assessments to the high standards of more established exams such as SAT and AP. Any assessment program would benefit and improve with Laura at its helm.
Nancy Lee
Laura was my manager when I started as an Assessment Specialist for the Reading team at the College Board. It was clear from day one just how much experience and knowledge Laura has in the field of assessment - a true role model. She was incredibly generous with her time as she patiently taught me important elements of item writing and helped me through many drafts of my work. In addition, Laura was a wonderful manager - no matter how busy we were, she checked in with me every week to see how I was doing, what areas I wanted to improve on, and if I needed help with anything. She doesn't micromanage - rather she has a very organic style that always made me feel I was being developed and supported fully. Any team would be lucky to have her.
Beth Hart
I've had the pleasure of working with Laura for a few years, and in that time she has flourished as an assessment designer and leader. I first started working with Laura when she volunteered to help out with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. The project required training and reviewing the work of inexperienced outside item writers on a large scale as this was the initial build for the Evidence Based Reading and Writing practice content. Laura brought not only skill as a passage and item reviewer, but also initiated improved processes and conducted analyses (e.g., monitoring passage approval rate) without being asked. This is why when I learned that she would be applying for the humanities assessment lead on the newly formed Pre-AP Assessment team I'd be managing, I was thrilled. I fully trusted Laura to design and develop both formative and summative assessments for World History and Geography, English 1, and English 2. As the Pre-AP program has evolved, I've watched Laura take on more and more responsibility. She became the authoritative voice for humanities assessments both internally and with our vendor. Again, she implemented new processes to streamline our work such as rolling passage submissions to mitigate the lengthy startup time devoted to sourcing and careful training of independent contractors to meet needs that our vendor could not. Laura combines excellent and traditional test development training with innovation and creativity. She rose to the challenge of creating digital first assessments for Pre-AP while holding those assessments to the high standards of more established exams such as SAT and AP. Any assessment program would benefit and improve with Laura at its helm.
Nancy Lee
Laura was my manager when I started as an Assessment Specialist for the Reading team at the College Board. It was clear from day one just how much experience and knowledge Laura has in the field of assessment - a true role model. She was incredibly generous with her time as she patiently taught me important elements of item writing and helped me through many drafts of my work. In addition, Laura was a wonderful manager - no matter how busy we were, she checked in with me every week to see how I was doing, what areas I wanted to improve on, and if I needed help with anything. She doesn't micromanage - rather she has a very organic style that always made me feel I was being developed and supported fully. Any team would be lucky to have her.
Experience
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ERB
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United States
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Education Administration Programs
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Director, ISEE Program
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Jun 2021 - Present
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The College Board
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United States
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Education Administration Programs
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700 & Above Employee
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Director, Pre-AP Assessments - Humanities
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Mar 2018 - Mar 2021
• Led the development of assessments for three new Pre-AP courses: World History & Geography, English 1 & 2. The Pre-AP program launched nationwide in Fall 2020.• Created the formative and summative test designs and built the final assessment products.• Trained three vendor content teams, including 14 vendor staff members, on various content and course requirements. One course saw a 68% increase in vendor item quality over 2.5 years.• Maintained schedules for four overlapping work streams, revising deadlines as needed with input from multiple stakeholders.• Reviewed ~1,200 test questions per year for quality and curricula alignment.• Distilled complex topics into easily understood, high-quality materials (presentations, assessment course guides, exam assembly specifications).• Refined student and classroom score reports with Digital Product Team and Project Management team.• Administered a digital pilot using a proprietary LMS; analyzed student performance data.• Developed Zoom trainings on assessment reporting and best practices for teachers and internal staff.• Conceived and executed community building programs intended to bolster staff engagement and improve cross-departmental relationships through after-work events and lunch-time competitions.• Made funding allocation decisions and tracked project budgets with Project Management team.
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Director, ELA/Literacy, SAT
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Dec 2016 - Mar 2018
• Developed free online Reading SAT practice content published on Khan Academy and accessed by millions of student users. In 2017, a student average of a 115-point score increase was attributed to these materials.• Wrote the Reading SAT "answer explanations" for the released exams posted on College Board's SAT practice site.• Aligned the SAT Reading, Writing and Language, and Essay skills to all 50 state's grades 8-HS standards for state contracts and product adoption.• Developed Reading and Writing and Language item sets for SAT suite of assessments.• Managed a staff of three; oversaw their development work and provided training.• Assembled secure SAT exams, attending to fairness and sensitivity.• Promoted from Test Development Specialist to Director.
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Senior Assessment Specialist, ELA/Literacy, SAT
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Jul 2014 - Dec 2016
• Developed Reading and Writing and Language units for the redesigned SAT and PSAT assessments.• Provided feedback on colleagues' and vendor's Reading and Writing and Language units for redesigned SAT and PSAT assessments.• Participated in and led Content Review Committee Meetings, which included a panel of teachers and professors and College Board staff, on SAT forms.• Participated in state standard setting meetings.
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Program Director
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Sep 2013 - Jul 2014
• Managed licensing and accreditation assessments, including item development, vendor relations, client meetings, and standard setting procedures.• Ensured test forms met item writing and statistical best practices for accreditation purposes.• Worked with psychometricians to create statistical parameters and evaluate item and exam performance.• Set program schedules and coordinated the workflow of internal departments and external vendor tasks to ensure timely and efficient delivery of services.• Assisted in client contracts and RFP responses.
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Assessment Developer
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2011 - 2014
• Wrote ELA items for online and paper-pencil assessments for various companies.• Wrote multiple choice, technology enhanced, constructed response, extended response, and performance task items aligned to Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language standards.• Wrote items and passages based on state contracts, Common Core standards, blueprints, and item development specs.• Met quick deadlines, edited and revised work based on client feedback. • Wrote ELA items for online and paper-pencil assessments for various companies.• Wrote multiple choice, technology enhanced, constructed response, extended response, and performance task items aligned to Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language standards.• Wrote items and passages based on state contracts, Common Core standards, blueprints, and item development specs.• Met quick deadlines, edited and revised work based on client feedback.
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Texas A&M University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Online Instructor
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Sep 2012 - Jul 2013
• Instructed and managed 30 students for an online Technical Writing course.• Prepared assignments and provided feedback on student work.• Revised curriculum and instructional materials as needed.
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Writing Center Consultant
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Sep 2012 - May 2013
• Edited and reviewed academic papers with undergraduate and graduate students.• Applied knowledge of grammar and punctuation conventions.• Presented introductory lectures on Writing Center policies and offerings to classes.
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American Institutes for Research
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United States
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Research
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700 & Above Employee
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Test Development Specialist (ELA)
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Apr 2011 - Aug 2011
• Modified operational test questions for students with learning disabilities.• Incorporated and adjusted four modifiable test approaches using statistical data.• Worked with psychometricians to assemble operational test forms; assembled field-test forms.
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Test Development Associate (ELA)
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Apr 2009 - Apr 2011
• Wrote and revised test questions that met state-set standards/curriculum in English Language Arts.• Wrote Reading and Writing test questions for online testing platform.• Led Content Advisory and Range-Finding Committees with Department of Education staff and teachers.
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Test Development Assistant (ELA)
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Jun 2007 - Apr 2009
• Selected literary and informational passages in accordance with test blueprints and form-building needs.• Directed content development for an interactive website for students and teachers.• Wrote online instructional text used to facilitate student understanding of published test questions.• Worked with Graphics and Technical teams to ensure test questions functioned properly.• Provided Reading content support and question writing for multiple projects.• Instructed new staff on project requirements and test development tasks.
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Hollins University
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United States
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Higher Education
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200 - 300 Employee
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Writing Center Tutor
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Feb 2004 - May 2007
• Edited and reviewed academic papers with undergraduate and graduate students• Applied knowledge of grammar and punctuation conventions• Presented introductory lectures on Writing Center policies and offerings to classes • Edited and reviewed academic papers with undergraduate and graduate students• Applied knowledge of grammar and punctuation conventions• Presented introductory lectures on Writing Center policies and offerings to classes
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Education
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2011 - 2013
Texas A&M University
Master of Arts (M.A.), English -
2003 - 2007
Hollins University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English
Community
