Weadé (pronounced We-ah-day) James is the senior director for K-12 Education Policy at American Progress. Prior to joining American Progress, she was the vice president of organizational advancement at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, where she led development, research, and strategic partnerships to advance the organization’s mission to elevate education and educator preparation. Dr. James earned her Ph.D. in education from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master’s in educational administration and policy from Howard University, and a bachelor’s degree in child psychology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. During her free time, she enjoys cooking and outings in the Washington, D.C., area with her family.