Melissa Tooley
Senior Policy Analyst, Education Policy Program
Melissa Tooley is a senior policy analyst with New America’s Education Policy Program. She provides research and analysis on K-12 policies and practices that impact teaching quality and school leadership. She writes on a variety of topics including co llege- and career-ready standards, and educator preparation, evaluation, development, and retention. Tooley co-authored “Time to Improve: How Federal Policy Can Promote Better Prepared Teachers and School Leaders” with recommendations for revamping federal policies related to improving K-12 teacher and school leader preparation, as well as state systems for educator licensure, induction, compensation, and advancement. Tooley and her work have been cited by such media outlets as the Wall Street Journal, Education Week, and Washington Monthly.
Before joining New America, Tooley was a teacher quality policy analyst at The Education Trust. Tooley completed her master’s in public policy at the University of Chicago, during which time she interned with Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Academic Enhancement and the White House Domestic Policy Council. Prior, she worked in higher education policy at The Institute for College Access & Success, in health policy at the Epilepsy Foundation in New York City, and in market research consulting at Nielsen BASES. Tooley also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Drew University.