Dr. Jordan Sherry-Wagner is an educator, philosopher, and learning scientist who currently serves as a postdoctoral scholar with the Learning in Places project, where he brings his interdisciplinary background in psychology, philosophy, and early childhood education to participatory design and research.
He began his career in early education as a founding co-director of a mixed-age family childcare program, a role he held for over a decade. A three-time graduate of the University of Washington’s College of Education (BA ’13, MEd ’16, PhD ’23), his work has spanned many roles, including research assistant, curriculum developer, program coordinator, classroom teacher, data analyst, and undergraduate instructor. Over the course of his career, he has been affiliated with the National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning, the Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, UW’s LIFE Center, and the Goodlad Institute for Educational Renewal.
Jordan is also affiliated with the Philosophy Teaching and Learning Organization (PLATO) and currently teaches philosophy and science classes through the Robinson Center’s Enrichment Program. As a graduate student, he was a Fellow of the Center for Philosophy for Children and earned a Certificate of Mastery in Philosophy for Children. He has led philosophy sessions in a wide range of educational contexts, including formal classrooms, summer camps, weekend enrichment programs, and the Washington State High School Ethics Bowl.
A lifelong gamer, Jordan has played video, card, and board games since childhood, with chess remaining a central passion. He began playing in elementary school and peaked at a Class C FIDE rating of 1556 in his teens before shifting from tournament competition to teaching. He now teaches chess through the Robinson Center’s Enrichment Program, where he helps students build strategic thinking, patience, and creativity both on and off the board.