Jana provides leadership advice to multiple state, organizational and higher education programs overseeing policy and practice in early childhood education. From 2012-19 she was the Co-Director of the US Education Department sponsored comprehensive technical assistance Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO). Previously, she was Executive Director of the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECS-SDE, now NASLEE) and Director of Early Childhood and Family Education at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). In addition, Jana has many years of experience in education, including as teacher and assistant school administrator, state legislative liaison and coordinator of federal programs.
Her central focus has been on education system and program improvement through standards-driven reform, including her work on improving early childhood education. She has worked on key initiatives designed to advance access and quality in early childhood education and care, supporting school linkages to children aged 0-8; early childhood systems building; expanding research findings on policies and practices that promote school readiness; and assisting states improving their early childhood accountability and governance structures that support child development and learning.
Ms. Martella holds masters’ degrees from San Diego State University and the Johns Hopkins University.