Jill Smerdon has been an educator since 2000. She was originally certified in Elementary Education and taught English Learners in grades 6-8 in an urban middle school. Jill earned Masters degrees in both Reading and Teaching English as a Second Language, always seeking to enhance her own knowledge and expertise in implementing research and evidence-based strategies. As a district-wide ESL Facilitator, Jill provided professional development for teachers in grades kindergarten through high school, focusing on analyzing student data trends to systematically target instruction and assessment. She instructed other educators throughout the eastern area of Pennsylvania as an adjunct professor in the ESL Specialist Certificate program at Penn State University. Jill has worked as an independent contractor for the Center for Applied Linguistics, writing and field testing items for the WIDA ACCESS language assessment. Committed to educational equity, Jill accepted a position with SBSL and is excited to continue collaborating with teachers and administrators in the common goal of improving the educational outcomes of all students.

Jill enjoys traveling, studying Spanish, and spending time with her family. Before graduating college, she studied in Guadalajara, México for six weeks. Jill and her son visited Puerto Rico, kayaking in the bioluminescent bay. Checking an item off her bucket list, Jill hiked the Inca Trail in Perú. While at home, Jill and her husband enjoy playing with their two German Shepherds.