Jenna Nguyen

EDUCATION RESEARCHER, SRI Education

Jenna Nguyen, EdM, is an education researcher and technical assistance (TA) specialist in SRI Education’s Center for Learning and Development. With over 10 years of experience across the early childhood and special education systems, she brings a passion to cultivating connections and community partnerships, integrating systems thinking and data, and empowering children and families to ensure they can access quality services and supports needed to thrive. 

At SRI, Nguyen currently leads, designs, and implements individual and cross-state TA through the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy) and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA). She supports state IDEA Part C early intervention and Part B 619 early childhood special education programs in building high-quality and sustainable state and local systems to improve access, experiences, and outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. She also supports the Oklahoma Early Intervention Study and the Innovative Technology for Early Childhood Assessment (INTECA) project, and previously co-led the Data Community of Practice as part of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Data Governance Consulting and Support project. Over the years, she has also contributed to and led data collection on research and evaluation studies focused on early childhood education and digital learning, classroom quality and teacher-student interactions, suicide prevention, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and strategies and policies to support positive school climate in primary and secondary education. 

As an advocate for young children, Nguyen has also played a key role in building and participating in strong networks of early childhood advocates that bridge policy, practice, and research. She has had the honor of serving as a Saul Zaentz Fellow and a teaching fellow, serving as a project coordinator for Strategies for Children and the Bay Area Autism Consortium, providing direct services to support young children with autism, and volunteering her time outside of work at Rady Children’s Hospital and Big Brothers Big Sisters.  

Nguyen holds an EdM in human development and education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BA in psychology from the University of California, San Diego. 

Key projects

• Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy) 
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) 
• Innovative Technology for Early Childhood Assessment (INTECA) 
• Oklahoma Early Intervention Study 
• Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Data Governance Consulting and Support 

Selected publications

• Expanding Access to High-Quality Early Education and Care through Community Partnerships and Early Childhood Systems Building* 

*Publication written prior to joining SRI