EdTrust seeks a Spencer Fellow for Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) on our P12 team. The ideal Fellow is an early-career scholar with experience designing and conducting participatory action research or other community-oriented research strategies, who can help build Ed Trust’s capacity to engage and train young people to conduct systemic research to improve the schools intended to serve them.

The Fellow will join a staff committed to fulfilling our mission of closing opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income backgrounds and will contribute to advancing the P-12 division’s work and goals to examine barriers to excellent educational opportunities for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds and identify best practices to address those barriers.

The person in this role will work with colleagues within and across teams – as well as with external partners – to help design and carry out the P-12 youth participatory action research (YPAR) agenda related to Ed Trust's policy priorities, including equitable resource allocation, ensuring safe and culturally affirming schools, and creating more equitable pathways to college and career. The Fellow will represent the organization with a wide range of stakeholders, including advocates, other researchers, funders, educators, policymakers, and media.

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 24-month full-time Fellowship that begins July 16, 2024. The role is based in our Washington, DC office and is eligible for telework for up to 3 days per week per our current telework policy. The Fellow reports to the Director of P-12 Research and Data Analytics and will serve as a member of the Ed Trust National P-12 Research & Data team.

The primary responsibilities and objectives for this role are:

• Develop a framework for conducting YPAR at Ed Trust that addresses the organizational, financial, logistical, and ethical considerations that may arise when engaging youth as partners in the research process
• Collaborate with the Partnerships & Engagement team to strengthen and establish new relationships with organizations and scholars who are leaders in critical and/or youth participatory action research and youth advocacy
• Pilot the framework by developing and conducting a YPAR project and publishing the findings with aligned policy recommendations co-developed with student research partners
• Publish a brief with reflections on conducting YPAR at an equity-focused non-profit organization, with implications for other youth-serving or youth-focused organizations

Additional responsibilities and objectives for this role may include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and execute research projects that include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches
• Develop research syntheses on education and policy research from academic and public sources to inform EdTrust policy recommendations and policy priorities
• Develop research reports, briefs, blogs, and other resources to further inform advocates, policymakers, educators, journalists, and other public audiences of Ed Trust’s agenda
• Serve as a spokesperson for Ed Trust by sharing and elevating findings publicly with various audiences – including advocates, researchers, the media, and policymakers – that align with Ed Trust’s policy priorities of eliminating educational disparities and enhancing student outcomes
• Elevate Ed Trust’s policy priorities by developing key relationships and representing the organization in external meetings with external stakeholders, peer organizations, researchers and institutions of higher education, policymakers, funders, and other advocates

• Shared belief in Ed Trust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity with a focus on racial equity
• Teamwork skills and an eagerness to collaborate
• Strong project management (including time management) skills and attention to detail
• Problem-solving ability and strong research and analytical thinking skills
• Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Dedication to contribute to and maintain an equitable working environment
• Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback from others
• Ability to exercise sound judgment
• Continuous learner

We are looking for a candidate who is ABD or earned a Ph.D. in 2021 or later and possesses a combination of the following qualifications and experience:

• At least three years of experience conducting and/or analyzing research related to education policy
• Significant understanding of P-12 education policy, and how systemic inequities shape educational experiences for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds
• Proven expertise in qualitative and community/participatory research methodologies
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing participatory action research projects that include diverse populations

This salaried position falls in Level C 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: $65,680 - $82,100. 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%s, 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 as well as a pre-tax transit benefit.

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. New hires 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.