Anson supports executive communications strategy for President and CEO Denise Forte and other members of the EdTrust senior leadership team. He builds stories that articulate EdTrust’s vision with boldness, courage, and clarity.
Anson is an award-winning storyteller and speechwriter. Prior to joining EdTrust, he served as senior speechwriter at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Anson has also supported top leadership at the social security administration and The Carter Center. He began his career teaching middle school English and civics as a Teach for America corps member.
Anson holds a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Rhodes College in Tennessee.
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Hiking and camping is a favorite. This summer my wife and I tried camping with both kids (eight months and four years) for the first time. We had a lot of fun but decided we probably won’t camp with them again until the youngest can walk. It was hard to have to constantly hold the youngest (we are fine with our kids getting dirty but eating that dirt is a different matter entirely).
What are people most surprised to learn about you?
Despite being a writer, I love math and finance. My mother is a biostatistician, my father is a math teacher, and my sister is an economist. In the house I grew up in, my dad painted equations on the walls and dinner was spent discussing tax and math education policies. When I started in the federal government at the Social Security Administration, I began in the stats department. Whenever people asked where I learned statistics, I always said, “A few math classes, but mainly from home.”
What drew you to education?
Both my paternal grandfather and father were teachers. My maternal grandfather was a lifelong Sunday School teacher and also taught President Carter. When I graduated college, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I loved teaching, but I was distraught by the systemic issues that I observed. Even though my career took me away from education, I am excited to find myself back and in a position to try to fix some of the systemic problems that plague education.
