The P-12 and Higher Education Policy Councils at The Education Trust in Tennessee are comprised of civil rights, education, research, public policy, business, and community leaders who have a demonstrated commitment to educational equity in our state. Council members act as ambassadors, advocates, and allies to help expand and deepen the influence of the organization by providing access to new alliances and critical thought-partnership on a range of issues impacting the public education system in Tennessee. The councils advise The Education Trust in Tennessee with a bold policy agenda that illuminates the magnitude of the achievement gap in education, challenges the status quo on behalf of children, and empowers our diverse Tennessee communities. Brooke is the founding director of Diverse Learners Cooperative. She leads the DLC’s efforts to connect teachers and leaders… Laura Booker is the executive director of the Tennessee Education Research Alliance and a senior lecturer in the department… Christiane Buggs is chair of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education. She is a Nashville native and… Christopher Candelaria is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. His research interests… Trey S. Cunningham is a native of Brownsville, Tennessee, where his passion for community and desire for creating a… Indira Dammu is a Senior Analyst at Bellwether Education Partners. In this role, she works with a variety of… Robert Fisher is a Senior Advisor at Results for America—a national nonprofit organization that helps public sector leaders use… Donna has been actively involved with Ford NGL as a professional development provider and consultant for over 25 years.… Molly Hegwood is the Executive Director of English Learners for Metro Nashville Public Schools. The district is currently home… Natalie McKinney is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Whole Child Strategies, Inc. in Memphis. Whole Child Strategies, Inc.… Mandy Pellegrin is the deputy director at the Sycamore Institute, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center for Tennessee.… Nate is a professor of practice at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. He leads Annenberg's… Peter is the Senior Director of Research at Tennessee SCORE, identifying and studying new and emerging trends that could… Christopher Ruiz Banos is a student at Cumberland University majoring in mathematics and is the first in his family… Dr. Jared Bigham is the co-founder and CEO of myCredential. He is a fourth generation educator with over 20 years of… Laura Delgado, a Cuban-American from Houston, Texas, moved to Nashville to pursue her education at Vanderbilt University. She is… Dr. Youlanda Jones is the president of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) Covington, Ripley, and Northwest. Before being… Miki Mitrik is an organizer of people and information. Of special interest to her is the immigrant community. At… Jennifer Novo is the executive director of FUTURO, Inc, a college-success professional development organization in Middle-Tennessee. Jennifer has been… Carolyn Pippen is the founder and director of Path to College Tennessee, a nonprofit organization that provides professional development… Hailee B. Roye is a recent graduate of Tennessee State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She's… Tyvi Small currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He… Dr. Eric Stokes is assistant vice provost for strategic enrollment services and director of undergraduate admissions and orientation at… Bryce is the Director of Policy at SCORE, an education research and advocacy organization focused on ensuring public education…
P-12 Policy Council
Brooke Allen
Founding Director
Diverse Learners Cooperative
Laura Booker
Executive Director
Tennessee Education Research Alliance
Christiane Buggs
Chair
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education
Christopher Candelaria
Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education
Vanderbilt University
Trey Cunningham, Student Member
Tennessee State University
Indira Dammu
Senior Analyst
Bellwether Education Partners
Robert Fisher
Senior Advisor
Results for America
Donna Gilley
Community Coach
Ford NGL
Molly Hegwood
Executive Director of English Learners
Metro Nashville Public Schools
Natalie McKinney
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Whole Child Strategies, Inc.
Mandy Pellegrin
Deputy Director
Sycamore Institute
Nate Schwartz
Annenberg Institute for School Reform
Brown University
Peter Tang
Senior Director of Research
SCOREHigher Education Policy Council
Christopher Ruiz Banos, Student Member
Cumberland University
Jared Bigham
Co-founder & CEO
myCredential
Laura Delgado
Director
Pionero Scholars Program, Lipscomb University
Youlanda Jones
President
Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology 
Miki Mitrik
RHiTA Lead Faculty
Walters State Community College
Jennifer Novo
Executive Director
FUTURO, Inc.
Carolyn Pippen
Founder & Director
Path to College Tennessee
Hailee B. Roye, Student Member
Vanderbilt University
Tyvi Small
Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Eric Stokes
Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Services
Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation
The University of Memphis
Bryce Warden
Director of Policy
SCORE