Julia Watkins
About Julia Watkins
Julia Watkins serves as the State Partnerships Director at NWEA, where she has worked since 2016. With a background in education and experience in various roles, she specializes in early literacy, assessment, and educational improvement.
Work at NWEA
Julia Watkins has been employed at NWEA since 2012, where she has held multiple positions. She started as a Senior Account Manager, serving in that role for four years until 2016. Subsequently, she transitioned to the position of Account Executive, a role she maintained for eight years. In 2019, she advanced to the position of State Partnerships Director, where she has focused on leadership and relationship building within the K-12 educational assessment sector.
Previous Experience
Before her tenure at NWEA, Julia Watkins worked at Northwestern Mutual as the Director of Recruitment from 2001 to 2002 in Skokie, IL. Earlier in her career, she served as a First Grade Teacher at Chicago Public Schools from 2000 to 2001 in Chicago, IL. These roles contributed to her foundational skills in education and recruitment.
Education and Expertise
Julia Watkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Teaching from Purdue University, completing her studies from 1996 to 2000. Her educational background supports her expertise in early literacy and balanced assessment. She possesses skills in data interpretation and response to instruction and intervention, which enhance school and district infrastructure.
Focus Areas and Contributions
In her current role as State Partnerships Director at NWEA, Julia Watkins engages in state and federal initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes. Her work emphasizes leadership and relationship building to drive innovation and change in the K-12 educational assessment industry. She contributes to school improvement and student growth through her expertise in assessment strategies.