I am thrilled to join the Advance CTE team as a communications & advocacy associate. As part of the Communications Team, I will wear many hats, but my work will primarily be federal policy-focused. As part of this work, I will continue and support our weekly Legislative Updates and monthly member-only federal policy events, track federal legislation, and support resource development to connect our members to federal resources related to CTE.
Originally from the Washington DC metro area, I completed my undergraduate studies in western Pennsylvania at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies education through the teacher preparation program. After graduation, I taught 7th grade modern U.S. History post-Civil War and 8th grade civics and economics at a middle school in northern Virginia. In my first year of teaching, I covered a unit on public policy development and its impacts with my 8th graders, facilitating class discussions about school funding, infrastructure, and how the many levels of government contribute to our lives. This unit ignited my interest in learning more about policy, and I began looking into graduate programs, with the coronavirus pandemic accelerating my return to school.
I enrolled in the University of Washington’s Evans School of Policy & Governance in the fall of 2021, seeking a deeper understanding of public systems and policies contributing to inequity in our nation’s public education. I loved the Pacific Northwest, spending my time camping, hiking, and exploring a new-to-me region of the country. Seattle became my home – particularly enjoying the summertime – and I learned much about the city through a position in the Seattle City Council President’s office. My work in this role led to advocacy for more school funding for school social workers and counselors and building a coalition with City leaders to maintain community college access and uplift certification programs in emerging technology on those campuses.
After graduation, I made the most of my summer in Seattle, backpacking in the Enchantments and Mt. Rainier National Park and taking a big road trip with my family around the Olympic Peninsula. At the end of the summer, I headed east, back to family and friends in the DC area, and began an earnest job search to join the education policy and advocacy community. After a year of substitute teaching, working at farmer’s markets, and networking, I am so excited to join Advance CTE to advocate for equitable investment of resources into learning communities with the long-term outcomes of learners in mind.
Located in Washington DC, I spend time with family, check out new restaurants or museums, and play the drums outside of work. A lifelong DC sports fan, I am a big professional basketball fan – go Wizards! – and love to play basketball and volleyball in my free time.
Rob Young, communications & advocacy associate
Tags: Access and Equity, Federal Policy, Virginia, Washington DC