We’re “day-one ready:”
Put our experience to work
You’re a leader responsible for delivering public education that effectively prepares all students for success in college, careers and a world of constant change. As expert advisors, we deliver solutions that don’t just look good on paper — they’re vetted, durable, and ready to implement.
We fielded an extensive team to lead a national listening tour reaching 500+ organizations, design the organizational structure and assemble its founding board, create the methodology for reviewing materials, and identify and train the first cohort of educator-reviewers.
EdReports now fills a critical need by convening, training and facilitating veteran educators to analyze instructional materials and publish transparent review reports. Over 10 years, EdReports' reviews of 1,100 instructional materials have been used by 1,785+ school districts educating more than 18 million students.
To accelerate change, we created the Multilingual Learning Toolkit, an evidence-based resource detailing essential instructional practices for MLLs. We supported 11 districts and county offices of education in deploying the toolkit to help 1,100+ educators build their skills.
The result: a stronger statewide ecosystem and improved instructional experiences for California’s multilingual learners.
As the initiative's incubator, we drove the work end-to-end: building its launch and growth strategy, leading research and progress monitoring, coaching districts, running communications and creating data tools. We also designed the annual statewide conference, charted the long-term sustainability plan and supported SITG’s transition to a permanent home at Battelle.
SITG! now reaches 150+ districts and 400,000 students. Chronic absenteeism in Ohio has dropped 5 points in 3 years.
Trusted. Seasoned. Smart. Ready to tackle your most challenging problems.
We know that making progress in public education is hard. We also know it’s possible–because we’ve made it happen. Our team of education experts blend superior analysis, project management and facilitation to develop strategies that create clarity and coherence out of complexity. The solutions we co-design bring philanthropy, policy and practice together because that’s how systems actually change. We don’t just draft ideas, we deliver results.
Ila Deshmukh Towery
Ila Deshmukh Towery’s approach to her work is marked by a deep intellectual curiosity and an interest in bringing disparate ideas together to advance new thinking.
- Design implementation-ready strategy
- Produce actionable research
- Incubate new initiatives
- Advance strategic AI use
- Cultivate coherence and collaboration
Kelly James
Kelly James provides strategic and capacity-building support to philanthropists, advocates and education leaders, specializing in the design of coherent, equity-centered strategies that drive systemic improvement and advance opportunity for students.
- Facilitate funder collaboration
- Lead networks and convenings
- Design implementation-ready strategy
- Incubate new initiatives
- Measure, learn and evaluate strategy
Jenn Vranek
Jenn Vranek founded Education First in 2006 to build a mission-driven organization of the most trusted and effective education policy consultants in the nation.
- Facilitate funder collaboration
- Lead networks and convenings
- Design implementation-ready strategy
- Cultivate coherence and collaboration
- Coach systems leaders
- Incubate new initiatives
John Luczak
John Luczak is a leading expert on teacher evaluation, leadership and preparation reforms, specializing in helping district, state, union and management groups build new systems that overcome complex implementation challenges.
- Facilitate funder collaboration
- Lead networks and convenings
- Design implementation-ready strategy
- Coach systems leaders
Rashidah Lopez Morgan
Rashidah Lopez Morgan is an education strategist with deep expertise in talent systems, organizational strategy, and equity, known for her results-oriented leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to developing others.
- Facilitate funder collaboration
- Lead networks and convenings
- Design implementation-ready strategy
- Coach systems leaders
Visit the Insights library to benefit from our very best thinking
Education First’s resource library offers curated resources, toolkits and insights that led to results for our clients and are now available to support you.
National Forum on the Future of Assessment & Accountability
The Only Way Out is Through: Adaptive Strategies for Nonprofits
Assessment to Action: Redesigning Indiana’s State Assessments for Instructional Impact
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