Spencer Sherman advises education leaders on policies and programs that prepare students for success after high school. He has over 15 years of experience in public education roles, from teacher to state policymaker. Spencer is an expert on college and career pathways initiatives, federal and state policy analysis, and leveraging data and technology to better serve students. Spencer is skilled at helping leaders develop innovative policies and strategic plans, and then successfully implement them through effective change management.
Spencer is a passionate believer in the power of education to advance equity and economic mobility. He began his career serving low-income students as a teacher and administrator in New Orleans public schools. Spencer then worked as the Chief for Innovation at the Rhode Island Department of Education, where he launched many new statewide projects, including a cross-agency career pathways initiative, a student-centered unified course platform, and a post-COVID tutoring program. Spencer then moved to nonprofit and consulting roles, supporting initiatives such as Indiana’s high school redesign effort and California’s $500M college and career pathways legislation.
Spencer earned a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University. He lives with his wife in Minnesota, where he enjoys outdoor adventures and playing his guitar.
