Alyssa Ratledge is a postsecondary education researcher at MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy research firm.

She works closely with community colleges, technical colleges, and open- and broad-access institutions to implement and evaluate programs that improve graduation rates for students from low-income backgrounds.

Her primary areas of focus are student support programs, developmental (remedial) education, and financial aid innovation. Ratledge leads MDRC’s rural higher education portfolio and is seen as a thought leader in improving the inclusion of rural students and rural colleges in education research.

Ratledge holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Brown University. Her work has been published in a wide range of publications, from academic journals like American Economic Journal: Applied Economics and Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness to policy magazines like The Hill and Spotlight on Poverty.

LINK TO APRIL 20 ZOOM SESSION

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Racial & Social Justice Articles & Resources

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Scott Payne is district superintendent and chief executive officer of Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES. He previously served as superintendent of Pine Valley Central School in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

He also served as the director of student and staff learning at Alden Central School; director of instruction and student services and director of student services at Akron Schools; and director of special education and pupil personnel services for Amherst schools.

Before becoming an administrator, Payne was a special education teacher at Amherst as well as with Erie 1 BOCES and Buffalo Public Schools.

Payne received his bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education, a 
Master of Science in special education, and a certificate of advanced
studies in educational administration from the State University College
at Buffalo.