P-12 Policy Fellow

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

The Education Trust - Tennessee (Ed Trust Tennessee) seeks a P-12 Policy Fellow to join the organization’s Policy & Research team. The Fellow will join a staff committed to fulfilling our mission of closing opportunity gaps that disproportionally affect students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

The Fellow will have the exciting opportunity to support an ambitious, equity-driven policy agenda and immerse themselves in Tennessee’s education policy and advocacy landscape. Fellows are integral team members who will support and lead projects that increase their professional skills and experiences based on their expertise and interests. By the end of this fellowship, this person will have multiple externally published written products for their portfolio, deeper expertise in our policy agenda priorities (e.g., teacher diversity, college access and success) and relationships with partners, stakeholders, and institutions in Tennessee and beyond.

Ed Trust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, Ed Trust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.

This is a 12 month, full-time (at least 30 hours per week) fellowship, available June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025. The role is based in our Nashville, Tennessee office and is eligible for telework per our current policy (i.e., up to 3 days of telework per week). The Fellow reports to the Assistant Director of Policy & Research.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Monitor, analyze, and track P-12 policy developments in Tennessee related to Ed Trust priority issues to inform our policy strategy
• Collect and analyze local, state, and national education data to support policy, research, and advocacy efforts
• Produce written products (e.g., fact sheets, memos, reports, blog posts, and presentations) to advance our policy agenda
• Lead a policy research project from inception to release based on the fellow’s interests, organizational priorities, and policy windows
• Collaborate with partners, stakeholders, and institutions across the education policy landscape
• Conduct data analysis and research in response to inquiries from a variety of internal and external stakeholders

IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Shared belief in Ed Trust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity, with a focus on racial equity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills leveraged to translate complex data, research, and policy to a variety of audiences
• Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback
• Ability to organize, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Ability to take initiative and be self-directed
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Experience and/or strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative data collection, management, analysis, and visualization, including advanced Excel, Tableau, and STATA
• Experience and/or strong understanding of p-12 federal, state, and local contexts and levers that affect the Tennessee education policy landscape
• The Fellow may be in the last year of pursuing their Bachelor’s degree, in a Master’s degree program, or a recent graduate focused on education policy or a related field.

COMPENSATION

This salaried position falls in Level A of our salary structure for our Washington, DC office. New hire offers typically fall between the minimum and mid-point of the range and are rarely offered at the top of this range: $48,000 - $60,000. Offers will be commensurate with skills, experience, and internal equity.

The Education Trust prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees and, to that end, offers a highly competitive benefits package. Fellows are eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance covered at 100%, with significant coverage also offered for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents. Fellows accrue sick leave and vacation leave, and we follow the federal government for most holiday closures. To ensure staff have synchronous opportunities for rest and renewal, the office is closed for a week-long summer break and a week-long winter break. Fellows are also eligible for our Employee Assistance Plan.

VACCINATION FOR COVID-19

At The Education Trust, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all Education Trust employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. Any new interns should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodation due to medical or religious reasons will be reviewed by Human Resources.

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, PLEASE APPLY

The Education Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

To Apply: Please complete the application in ADP, including uploading your resume and responding to the short answer questions in lieu of a cover letter.