The Education Trust
Alexza Barajas Clark, Ph.D. has a diverse work experience spanning over several years. Alexza began their career as an Associate Producer at NBC News, where they were responsible for pitching, producing, and shooting news content for nightly.msnbc.com. Alexza then transitioned to CNN, where they held a similar role as an Associate Producer.
In 2013, Alexza joined St. Cecilia Academy as the Director of Communications, a position they held until 2017. Afterwards, they joined Conexion Americas as the Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy. In this role, they led an education policy team and was instrumental in developing communication campaigns and a digital advocacy platform, creating awareness and providing opportunities for leadership and action by various stakeholders.
Most recently, Alexza joined The Education Trust as the Assistant Director for Tennessee. Alexza later transitioned to the role of Chief of Staff for Tennessee, where they currently serve.
Alexza Barajas Clark, Ph.D. completed their Bachelor's Degree in speech communication and rhetoric/broadcast Journalism from California State University, Long Beach, between 2000 and 2004. In 2002, they studied abroad at Universidade Federal do Para, Brasil, focusing on Global News Media. Later, from 2006 to 2008, they pursued a Master's Degree in mediated and mass communication, paradox, and narrative theory at Pepperdine University. Finally, from 2009 to 2013, Alexza obtained their Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in communications, specializing in participatory media, video, trauma studies, narrative theory, and student media, from the University of Utah.
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The Education Trust
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The Education Trust promotes high academic achievement for all students at all levels—pre-kindergarten through college. Our goal is to close the gaps in opportunity and achievement that consign far too many young people—especially those from low-income families or who are Black, Latino, or American Indian—to lives on the margins of the American mainstream. Although many organizations speak up for the adults employed by schools and colleges, we speak up for students, especially those whose needs and potential are often overlooked. We evaluate every policy, every practice, and every dollar spent through a single lens: what is right for students. We work alongside educators, parents, students, policymakers, and civic and business leaders in communities across the country, providing practical assistance in their efforts to transform schools and colleges into institutions that serve all students well. We analyze local, state, and national data and use what we learn to help build broader understanding of achievement and opportunity gaps and the actions necessary to close them. We participate actively in national and state policy debates, bringing lessons learned from on-the-ground work and from unflinching data analyses to build the case for policies that will help all students and schools reach high levels of achievement. Our Core Beliefs: We believe in the power of education to close the gaps that separate low-income students and students of color from other young Americans. We believe that schools and colleges, appropriately organized, can help virtually all students master the knowledge they need to succeed. We believe long-standing gaps in opportunity, achievement, and attainment have roots inside and outside of schools. And though we know these gaps are stubborn, we also know they are not inevitable. We believe a strong education improves the lives of young people, is vital to sustaining our democracy, and strengthens America.