Hillary Knudson

Hillary operates at the nexus of policy and politics, focusing on strategy, advocacy, and research across the PK-12 enterprise. Her driving vision is towards system-level change that advances equity in access and success for all students. Her experience in federal and state education policy, legislation, and implementation spans nearly a decade. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Tennessee Department of Education. During her tenure, she co-authored Tennessee’s ESSA plan and oversaw the implementation of multi-million dollar strategic initiatives connected to early literacy, high quality instructional materials, and school improvement efforts across the state. Prior to TDOE, Hillary worked as K12 policy staffer for the Senate HELP Committee supporting the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act through the legislative process and final passage.

Hillary earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Child Development from Vanderbilt University and her Master’s degree in Education Policy and Organizational Leadership from Stanford Graduate School of Education. She currently lives in San Francisco and enjoys learning to surf, exploring state and national parks, and searching for the perfect cold brew coffee.