Sarah Tierney is the Senior Director of Educator Engagement and Impact at Teaching Lab Studio, where she connects educator insight, product development, and organizational learning. She believes teachers do the most important job in the world—and deserve tools built with them, shaped by their expertise, and worthy of their time. She created and grew the Teacher Advisory Board to bring educators’ perspectives directly into product development. She also leads Design Loops, drawing on expertise across Teaching Lab and Relay Graduate School of Education to shape, test, and refine tools grounded in classroom practice.

Sarah builds bridges across the Studio, Teaching Lab, and Relay, helping teams turn insights from educators, research, and implementation into stronger tools and more coherent support for schools. She leads Studio-wide efforts to use evidence to inform improvement and understand what makes a difference for educators and students. Through marketing and storytelling, she shares the people and classroom experiences behind the Studio’s tools.

Sarah brings 20 years of experience working across classrooms, schools, districts, and state education systems. She has advised state and district leaders on comprehensive strategies for assessment, instructional materials, and professional learning, and has built partnerships to advance instructional improvement across diverse communities. She began her career teaching fourth and fifth grade at P.S. 70 in the Bronx. Since then, Sarah has held fast to the belief that an excellent education is a human right—and that when we set a high bar for students and give them the support to reach it, we open the door to whatever future they can dream up. She holds an MA in International Studies and History from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Science in Teaching from Pace University.