Washington, D.C. — Today, the Center for American Progress announced new leadership for the K-12 Education Policy team. Scott Sargrad has been promoted to vice president for K-12 Education Policy, and Khalilah Harris will join the organization as managing director for K-12 Education Policy. Together, Sargrad and Harris will lead the K-12 Education team’s research and policy development initiatives. Sargrad previously served as the team’s managing director and is replacing Catherine Brown, who recently transitioned to a senior fellow role at the Center.
“Ensuring every student in America can get a high-quality public education will continue to be the cornerstone of CAP’s K-12 education policy program under Scott’s leadership,” said Neera Tanden, CAP president and CEO. “I’m thrilled to have him leading our efforts to make schools better meet the needs of students, families, and America’s workforce.”
“Khalilah’s background of working on issues of equity and justice will be a tremendous asset in our work to limit disparities in our education system,” said Tanden. “I’m excited to have someone with such a wealth of different experiences joining our team.”
Prior to joining American Progress, Sargrad served as deputy assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the U.S. Department of Education under then-Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as well as the acting director of the Education Department’s Office of School Turnaround. He joined the Education Department in 2009 as a presidential management fellow in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and also worked as a senior policy adviser for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. Sargrad began his career in education as a math teacher and special education aide.
Prior to joining American Progress, Harris was a host and executive producer with a Baltimore-based news network focused on their Baltimore bureau, education reporting, and social justice commentary. Harris brings a unique perspective to the CAP team from her extensive career of working to expand access to opportunity through an equity lens in community organizing, education, education policy, youth advocacy, and building an inclusive workforce. In addition to her background as an attorney and researcher, she is the founder of a Baltimore City school focused on social justice and the co-founder of a local community collaborative called the Coalition of Black Leaders in Education. Harris organizes nationally with the EduColor movement and served as the first deputy director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
For more information, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected] or 202.741.6292.