Melinda George
Melinda George is Learning Forward’s chief policy officer, serving on the Learning Forward leadership team and overseeing Learning Forward’s policy and advocacy work. Melinda has been integral to developing strategy and facilitating networks as well as leading the Learning Forward fundraising team. Prior to joining Learning Forward, Melinda was the president of the National Commission on Teaching & America’s Future (NCTAF) where she led its charge to build a research-based framework of policies and practices that ensure every child has access to a competent, caring teacher in a school organized for success. From 2006-11, Melinda served as the senior director of Education Strategic Relations at PBS, where she developed national partnerships and oversaw the development of PBS TeacherLine, an online professional development service. Prior to PBS, Melinda was the first executive director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). Melinda began her career as a 4th- and 5th-grade teacher in D.C. Public Schools.
All Articles
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Reach across the divide for professional learning
One recent early morning, I walked from my home near Washington, D.C., to the National Mall to see the U.S. Capitol. After such a tumultuous year, when divisive politics was at its worst, I was surprised at the sense of quiet in the air — almost somber. In that quiet […] -
Advocacy begins with a story – tell yours today
Imagine this. You are standing in front of your school board with an incredible professional learning plan that you have designed and begun to implement and now you want to continue and spread the implementation. You begin your presentation with the exciting components that are included. You detail the costs […] -
Announcing a new website: Powered by Title II
Today, we are pleased to launch Powered by Title II, a website designed to provide: background facts and data on Title II (the largest source of federal funding for professional learning); tools to advance your professional learning advocacy efforts; the latest federal updates; and links to research outlining the impact […] -
Federal update for the new year
The big picture As we enter the new year, Congressional leadership has a very full plate of legislative items – many of them carryovers from last year – that it must get done in a year that will be shorter because of this Fall’s mid-term elections. Budget reconciliation: While the […] -
Washington wrap up: Reconciliation, infrastructure, appropriations, oh my!
The Big Picture Pivotal pieces of President Biden’s legislative agenda have recently seen movement within Congress, however annual funding bills and other key budgetary and program renewals remain stuck in Congressional gridlock. Here is a review of where the key items stand: Infrastructure: On November 15, President Biden signed the […] -
At last, some movement on the Hill
In early November, Congress finally notched a major policy win, with the House passing the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Fund (BIF) bill on a bipartisan vote. The bill includes no direct funding for education but will help improve the nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water, and broadband access, all of which […] -
Capitol Hill progress, negotiations, and road blocks
If you have been watching the news lately, you know that there is a lot happening – or not happening – on Capitol Hill. There are several big things that are being debated. These include: House and Senate working together to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily fund the […] -
US federal budget in motion
The $3.5 trillion Budget Reconciliation Act, which may contain hundreds of billions of dollars for Biden Administration priorities like free community college, free pre-K, and teacher preparation programs, is beginning to move more quickly down the path to enactment. This week, the full House of Representatives approved a Budget Reconciliation […] -
September advocacy campaign coming soon!
In late July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that included Fiscal Year 2022 funding for all federal education programs. Under that bill, U.S. Department of Education programs would receive an increase of 41%, including a $2.3 billion allocation for Title IIA, a $150 million increase over last […] -
FY22 Appropriations process underway
On May 5, the House Labor HHS Education Appropriations Subcommittee launched the FY 2022 appropriations process with a hearing to hear from US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona about President Biden’s proposed FY22 budget for the Department of Education. The hearing occurred even though the Department has only publicly released […]
