Erin Patterson

Erin is a former teacher turned education policy strategist originally from South Carolina. With nearly 14 years in education, she has gone from the classroom to positions in federal policymaking, philanthropy, advocacy, and policy consulting. Erin spent five years teaching Government and Economics in North Carolina and Virginia, taking an active role in school- and district-wide leadership roles. After moving to Washington, D.C., Erin began her career in education policy at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development (OPEPD), assisting senior advisors on initiatives to expand equitable federal education policies. She has also worked with the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region as a Education Fellow, American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) as a Program Associate, and most recently with EducationCounsel as a Senior Policy Associate. Throughout her fifteen year career in education practice and policy, Erin has focused on expanding opportunities for the most underserved students – those experiencing homelessness, in foster care, and in the juvenile justice system. Erin earned her Bachelor’s Degree in History and Psychology from Anderson University in South Carolina, and her Master’s Degree in Public Policy from George Mason University in Virginia.