Eric Duncan is the director for P-12 policy, specializing in policies related to educator quality and increasing the racial diversity of the educator workforce.
Eric previously was a state policy advisor at WestEd, where he supported the organization’s federal and state policy strategy. Prior to that, Eric worked as a senior program associate at CCSSO, where he supported state efforts to diversify the teaching workforce and ensure that teachers are culturally responsive in practice through the Diverse and Learner-Ready Teachers Initiative. He also worked as the director of district initiatives at the National Council on Teacher Quality, where he supported the development of a student teaching project with three large school districts across the country and led the organization’s communications efforts to promote evidence-based teacher quality research. Before that, Eric worked at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Secretary, as a LEE public policy fellow. He was a member of My Brother’s Keeper Task Force and supported the Department’s work on teacher diversity. Eric started his career in Atlanta as a high school social studies teacher. He received his undergraduate degree at Emory University and has a juris doctor from Wake Forest University.
Superpower/Secret Talent
Sports trivia savant and semi-professional karaoke singer
What are people most surprised to learn about you?
I don’t like chocolate.
What drew you to education?
I have always wanted to be involved in improving conditions for people of color. Education always felt like the most impactful way to do so – plus I love children.
Why are you passionate about working at Ed Trust?
The equity focus, humble approach, and thoughtful way that the organization approaches issues related to education. Plus, John King…need I say more?
Author Archives
Avoiding The Talk: A Closer Look at Educator Influence on Racial Disparities in School Discipline
Newly released CRDC data showcases a troubling reality within our nation’s schools: racial disparities in school discipline.
Addressing Teacher Shortages in the Short- & Long-Term
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on American lives and our nation’s schools, causing disruptions that have compromised their ability…
Teachers Shouldn’t Have to Be Afraid to Teach Honest History
As Black History Month continues, many teachers are primed to teach lessons related to the United States’ history of Black people. But given the current social climate, I’m concerned about…
Black History Is American History: How Juneteenth Highlights the Necessity of Critical Race Theory and Anti-Racist Teaching
Juneteenth, the official freeing of enslaved people on June 19, 1865, in Texas, is one of the most important events in American history — but most students haven’t even been…
The Urgency of Anti-Racist Classrooms
The deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month should be taught in social studies classes for many years to come. But the way it’s taught will be a…
Listening to Educators of Color
The Education Trust and E4E recently convened a small group of educators of color from across the country to hear about their experiences during the sudden shift to distance learning.…
Appreciating Teachers of Color
Ever since Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) moved to online classes due to COVID-19, Keara Williams, a South L.A. high school teacher, has been calling her students’ homes and…