Our Vision and Work
School boards represent the community’s voice in public education, providing governance and shared knowledge of the community’s resources and needs. School board members are the policymakers closest to students in our public education system, working to ensure the mental, emotional, and physical safety young people need to thrive in school and beyond.
As school boards across the country face rising threats and backlash, Local Progress is working to organize school board members around a multi-issue policy agenda and create a community of practice for progressive local leaders
School Board Steering Committee
As a membership organization, we believe our work is most impactful when it is informed and guided by members. Bringing a diverse range of expertise and local experience, our School Board Steering Committee advises and shapes our work in this area:
RAAHEELA AHMED
Former School Board Member
Prince George’s County Public Schools, MD
XILONIN CRUZ-GONZALEZ
Former School Board Member
Azusa Unified School District, CA
ASHLEY ESPOSITO
Baltimore Public Schools, MD
EMILY FIGDOR
Portland Public Schools, ME
JILLY GOKALGANDHI
Milwaukee Public Schools, WI
KELLY KENT
Local Progress Board Member
Culver City Unified School District, CA
JENNIFER MECOZZI
Buffalo Public Schools, NY
A'DORIAN MURRAY-THOMAS
Newark Board of Education, NJ
JASMIN RAMIREZ
Roaring Fork Schools, CO
MEGAN SWEET
Alameda Unified School District, CA
JEN WESTMORELAND
Hopkins Public Schools, MN
CHARLIE WILSON
Worthington Schools, OH
Resources
Case Studies
Embedding Equity Into the Student Experience in Culver City Public Schools, CA
Blogs And Featured News
- News Article ▹ February 23, 2023
Meet the LP’s newly-formed School Board Steering Committee!
The steering committee will guide the work of the school board cohort moving forward, bringing a diverse range of experiences and expertise to building our shared agenda.
- Economic Justice, Immigrant Justice, Just Recovery
- ▹ June 14, 2023
Federal Advocacy Roundup | June 2023
The June 2023 Local Progress Federal Advocacy Roundup breaks down the debt ceiling deal, the Trump indictment, the Supreme Court's decision in Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. Teamsters, and the status of asylum seekers post-Title 42.
- Housing
- ▹ June 12, 2023
Minnesota local leaders strategize for the next wave of change
As Minnesota's 2023 state legislative session comes to a close, local leaders across the state came together last week to strategize on housing policy and narrative, learn from one another, build community, and dream up change.
- Home Rule, Public Safety
- ▹ June 8, 2023
Six Florida Cities Succeed In Reducing Harm Of HB 1, End Court Challenge
Southern Poverty Law Center shared a press release marking the end of six Florida cities' lawsuit against HB 1, Florida's anti-protest and anti-local control bill.
