Senior Policy Advocate, Education Equity

Senior Policy Advocate, Education Equity

Location: San Francisco or Sacramento (hybrid w/limited travel)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Education Equity

Pay Range: $84,800-$124,450

Reports to: Managing Attorney

Public Advocates Inc. is a nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing, transportation equity and climate justice.

We spur change through collaboration with grassroots groups representing low-income communities, people of color and immigrants, combined with strategic policy reform, media advocacy and litigation — “making rights real” across California since 1971. Learn more about our work .

The Senior Policy Advocate for the Education Equity team advances Public Advocates’ mission by leading state and local advocacy to promote educator diversity, preparation, quality, and support in California. In close collaboration with the Managing Attorney, program staff, and grassroots partners, the Senior Policy Advocate develops and executes legislative, administrative, coalition and community advocacy strategies that strengthen the educator workforce and promote equitable access to well-prepared and diverse teachers for all students at the state, regional, and local levels.

This position plays a key role in developing policy solutions, facilitating community collaboration, representing Public Advocates in statewide coalitions, and mentoring staff and interns in policy advocacy and coalition-building work.

• Leads the development and execution of educator preparation, support, and diversity strategy at the state, regional, and local levels in partnership with the Managing Attorney.
• Works with the State Advocacy team to support budget and legislative initiatives to secure resources and strengthen proposals for fully prepared and diverse educators, aligned with the California Educator Diversity Policy Roadmap.
• Leads engagement with state agencies (California Dept. of Education and California Commission on Teacher Credentialing) to advance policies that promote development of and access to fully prepared and diverse educators for California’s highest-need students.
• Drafts written and oral advocacy including letters, testimony, and action alerts; delivers public comments and represents Public Advocates in hearings, interest holder meetings, and public forums.
• Leads Public Advocates’ participation in key statewide educator equity-focused coalition spaces, including the California Educator Diversity Action Network (CEDAN), with a focus on Educator Compensation and Teacher Pathways
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• Leads engagement with the LCFF Equity Coalition’s Educator Equity Workgroup to advocate before the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
  , State Board of Education and California Department of Education on issues of educator preparation, support and quality.

• Co-leads capacity building and strategy workgroup with grassroots partners to advance statewide and local educator diversity campaigns in collaboration with statewide alliance, the California Partnership for the Future of Learning (CA PFL), and community partner Californians for Justice.
• Coaches and assists organizing partners to advance local educator diversity and preparedness campaigns and participate in statewide educator diversity coalition.
• Coordinates with and builds capacity of regional community foundations and Public Advocates colleagues engaged in local advocacy to advance educator quality and diversity.

• In partnership with the Director of Communications and advocacy partners, develops a coherent narrative strategy that elevates stories from educators and communities to shape policy and practice.
• Drafts blog posts, op-eds, and public education materials to highlight advocacy goals and progress.
• Represents Public Advocates and coalition partners at conferences, briefings, and in media engagements.

• Supports stewardship…