Leifeld led and studied the process of research and development (R&D) collaboration with educators, students, and community members. She was a founding member of the EF+Math Program, leading educator engagement strategy, managing district partnerships, and managing the Educator Leadership Council. In addition to working with EF+Math, she has worked with the Assessment for Good Program and with the AERDF team. Before joining EF+Math, she was the assistant director for math programs at the Center for Science and Math Education at Loyola University Chicago, where she developed programs and partnerships to improve math education. She began her career as a math teacher in Camden, New Jersey, and has served as an instructional coach in Philadelphia schools and as a school district administrator in Beloit, Wisconsin. She earned her Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction/math education from Temple University, where her research focused on the use of examples in learning algebra, mathematical flexibility, and the benefits of research partnerships on instructional change in math classrooms.
Leifeld led and studied the process of research and development (R&D) collaboration with educators, students, and community members. She was a founding member of the EF+Math Program, leading educator engagement strategy, managing district partnerships, and managing the Educator Leadership Council. In addition to working with EF+Math, she has worked with the Assessment for Good Program and with the AERDF team. Before joining EF+Math, she was the assistant director for math programs at the Center for Science and Math Education at Loyola University Chicago, where she developed programs and partnerships to improve math education. She began her career as a math teacher in Camden, New Jersey, and has served as an instructional coach in Philadelphia schools and as a school district administrator in Beloit, Wisconsin. She earned her Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction/math education from Temple University, where her research focused on the use of examples in learning algebra, mathematical flexibility, and the benefits of research partnerships on instructional change in math classrooms.