Team

Our team members have diverse backgrounds in teaching, government, research, communications, and policy, but we all have one thing in common: We know that every Minnesota student can excel in a rigorous and engaging school, and we’re ready to work to make this happen.

 

Want to be part of the work? See our current openings!

Josh Crosson

Executive Director

As executive director, Josh sets the direction for the organization’s work to ensure that all Minnesota students, especially those most underserved, have access to a great education.

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andrea roethke

Andrea Roethke

Managing Director of Strategy and Operations

Andrea builds EdAllies’ capacity and impact by developing internal systems, managing a high-functioning team, and advancing educator and community engagement programs.

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Matt Hager

Director of Communications & Advancement

Matt leads EdAllies’ communications strategy including media relations, content, storytelling, and social media. He works to amplify voices, inform advocates, and communicate critical information.

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Meredith Samuelson

Operations Manager

Meredith Samuelson works behind the scenes at EdAllies to ensure the team has the capacity to do their best work for Minnesota students.

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Matt Shaver

Policy Director

As policy director, Matt coordinates EdAllies’ advocacy efforts, serving as a point person for policymakers, partners, and the community.

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Madie Spartz

Policy & Research Analyst

As Policy & Research Analyst, Madie helps EdAllies advance education policies that are data-informed and grounded in high-quality research and best practices.

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Margaret Sullivan

Programs & Outreach Manager

Margaret connects students, families, and educators to EdAllies' programs and advocacy opportunities.

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Alex Jacques

Project Manager, Community Action Team

Alex is an independent consultant bringing a decade of experience in education, organizing, and advocacy to the EdAllies team. He coordinates EdAllies' 2023 Community Action Team.

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Jill Greendeer

Indigenous Research Consultant

Jill is an Indigenous Research Consultant with EdAllies and has experience working in academic, corporate, and clinical settings both within Native American communities and in mainstream society.

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EdFellows

Ruth Davis

Ruth is changing the narrative about student hunger in schools by elevating parent, educator, and student voices; increasing access to information; and doing community education.

Ruth Davis is a Hunger-Free Schools Advocacy Fellow. She is working to change the narrative about student hunger in schools by elevating parent, educator, and student voices; increasing access to information; and doing community education.

Ruth was born and raised in Chicago, in a low-income community, by a single mother. She understands the challenges surrounding food and the importance of education in combination with free school meals—providing our children with healthy free meals in school helps them focus on their education and the learning process.

Ruth is the mom of two (her most important job), a business owner, and deeply invested in supporting historically marginalized people and underrepresented communities. Currently, She works as an Equal Opportunity Consultant II for Metropolitan Council. In addition, she is an investigator for internal/external complaints of protected class discrimination and harassment, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), and Title VII. And Ruth is a board member and Diversity Equity Inclusion Chair for Residents of Color Collective Minnesota.

For the past five, Ruth has collaborated with organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion projects—including serving as a Racial Justice Facilitator with SEIU International Union's BOLD Center, Education Equity Parent Fellow with Voices for Racial Justice, in a volunteer capacity with Girl Scouts of River Valley, and as a member of the finance subcommittee with the District Equity Council for the Mounds View School District. Previously, she served as Lead Member Action Center Internal Organizer with SEIU Healthcare of Minnesota.

Ruth holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Conflict Resolution from North Central College; a master's in Human Resource Management and Business Administration with a focus in General Management; and a certificate of entrepreneurship from Keller Graduate School of Management. And she is working on her degree in Early Childhood Education from Central State University.

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