State and Legal ‘Greatest Hits’ for Charter Schools in 2018
2018 was a big year for the public charter school sector. Let’s take a look back at the highlights on the state and legal front.
As Director of Advocacy Communications, Kat Sullivan leads the creation and implementation of an integrated strategic communications plan with state and national audiences to advance the National Alliance’s federal, state, and legal advocacy goals. In this role, she works to ensure the organization’s advocacy priorities are supported by strategic communications efforts to change the narrative about public charter schools and works with state and national partners to execute collaborative communications strategies.
Prior to joining the National Alliance, Kat worked as a senior associate in the Financial Services practice of The Glover Park Group (GPG), a leading communications consulting and public affairs agency. In that role, she focused on crafting and executing strategic communications plans, message development, and stakeholder and influencer engagement.
Before joining GPG, Kat spent over three years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce working on education and workforce policy for the Center for Education and Workforce (CEW) and later managing communications for the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC). In these roles, Kat was responsible for the department’s marketing initiatives, web properties, and social media platforms, and worked to promote messages and programs to key audiences.
Kat graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina (USC) Honors College with a BA in English and a minor in Public Relations. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and is chair of the D.C. chapter’s high school scholarship committee. Kat also serves as a member of USC’s College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Council and is a member of Charter Board Partners, a nonprofit that builds effective boards for public charter schools. A native Northern Virginian, Kat enjoys getting outdoors, practicing yoga, and cheering for D.C.’s consistently heartbreaking sports teams.
Who was your favorite teacher? My high school English and journalism teacher, Mrs. Temme.
What is one thing on your bucket list? To be invited back to my alma mater, USC, as a commencement speaker.
What was the last really great book you read? Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.
Blog posts by Kat Sullivan
Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School
Yu Ying–nurturing excellence in Chinese–was founded in 2008 by a small group of parents who believed all D.C. children have the right to a quality education that opens doors to that unknown future. As the only public school in Washington, D.C., to offer Mandarin Chinese immersion, Yu Ying offers a world-class public education to nearly 600 students in pre-K through grade 5.
