Heather Cope is chief of staff at the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, where she is responsible for shaping and supporting organizational strategy, planning, and internal communications with the goal of optimizing all leadership structures. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the non-profit and government sectors spanning organization types at the state and local levels. Most recently, Heather was the founder and principal of Blue Otter Consulting, LLC, working with clients in states across the country and focusing on projects across the education continuum related to policy, research, advocacy, strategy, and program management. Before consulting, Heather served as deputy chief performance officer in the Camden City School District, directing non-instructional supports for students, project managing cross-functional initiatives, and overseeing the implementation of a citywide accountability system. Prior to that, as executive director of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, she managed a state agency and oversaw a $24+ million grant program, advised board members on state policy, and led the board’s communications strategy. Before moving to Louisiana, Heather was policy director at the League of Education Voters, leading policy initiatives, contributing to advocacy and communications efforts, and supporting coalition campaigns. She began her career as a middle school social studies teacher in the Bronx, NY. Heather received a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in teaching, specializing in adolescent social studies, from Pace University.