Background:
Sophie Zamarripa is a senior policy analyst with Bellwether in the Policy and Evaluation practice area.
Her professional experience includes a combination of education research and policy, data analysis, consulting, and hands-on classroom engagement. Prior to joining Bellwether, Sophie was a senior consultant at ILO Group supporting the development of women and people of color in educational leadership positions and providing technical assistance to a range of school districts across the country. She also served as a senior associate at the Boston-based Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy, where her research, policy, and practice portfolio spanned the entire education pipeline, from early childhood through higher education. She also worked as a consultant at District Management Group, where she partnered with districts to support improvement in special education, students’ social-emotional and behavioral supports, and intervention practices.
Sophie holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in political science and educational studies from Tufts University. She served as a teacher’s assistant in a kindergarten classroom and a graduate student fellow at The Education Trust–Midwest while pursuing her higher education degrees.
Why I do this work:
My access to a strong public school system and the value placed on education throughout my life were catalysts for my own upward mobility. My higher education and hands-on learning experiences opened doors that enabled me to affirm my biracial, Latina identity, and define success on my own terms — a privilege that should be afforded to all students regardless of their backgrounds. I am here today because of the sacrifices of those who came before me, and I do this work to ensure that those who come after me can thrive from educational experiences free of systemically-rooted inequities.
