Contact:
Devin Boyle | 202.445.0416 | Devin@dfer.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Democrats for Education Reform Appoints New Deputy Director
Lea Crusey, Formerly of StudentsFirst, Selected to Help Run DFER’s National Efforts
Washington, DC, July 23rd, 2013 – Lea Crusey, a former classroom teacher and state director for StudentsFirst has been named deputy director of Democrats for Education Reform, the political action committee announced today.
“Lea brings to DFER extensive experience working on the front lines to improve our nation’s education system,” said Joe Williams, DFER’s executive director. “The addition of Lea to our team will help propel DFER forward in our efforts to guarantee kids all across the country have access to an excellent education.”
Crusey started her career as a middle school teacher in East Palo Alto, Calif. working with high-needs students, where she saw firsthand the inequities that exist in our education system. From there she moved into the policy field, eventually joining StudentsFirst as an early employee and launching operations as state director for Missouri, Iowa, and Nevada before making her most recent jump over to DFER.
The selection of Crusey coincides with several other recent changes at DFER including the appointment of the new DFER Colorado State Director, Jen Walmer, the addition of former New York Sen. Craig Johnson to the DFER-NY Board of Directors as chairman, and the opening of DFER offices in Tennessee and Arizona.
“I am honored to be joining DFER at such an exciting time for the organization and the education reform movement,” said newly appointed Deputy Director Lea Crusey. “Since launching in 2007, DFER has made a significant impact on the politics and policies impacting our nation’s schools, advancing the discourse on many sorely needed education reforms throughout the country. I look forward to building on the organization’s many successes and working to ensure a high-quality education to all kids.”
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About Democrats for Education Reform
Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a political action committee with 13 state offices whose mission is to encourage a more productive dialogue within the Democratic Party on the need to fundamentally reform American public education. DFER operates at all levels of government to educate elected officials and support reform-minded candidates for public office.