Prateek Dutta is an education leader with significant experience working both in district and state policy and on the ground with students and families.

After graduating from college, Prateek taught in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and received the highest student achievement scores in the state three years in a row. Realizing his impact as a teacher was limited, Prateek left the classroom to lead the KIPP Through College program, advising 150 students to graduate high school, apply to college and persist through to finish college. After spending six years in New Orleans, Prateek was admitted in the fifth cohort of the Doctorate of Education Leadership (Ed.LD) Program at Harvard University.

During his time in graduate school, Prateek examined New Mexico’s new teacher evaluation system and helped create a state-wide early-warning system that detects students who are at risk of dropping out. Additionally, Prateek consulted with Boston Public Schools and New York City Public schools on a variety of issues ranging from increasing the performance of English language learners to improving the relationship between district and charter schools. Finally, in the mist of profound sadness and uncertainty, Prateek helped create the transition plan for the new Superintendent of the Ferguson-Florrisiant school district, Joe Davis.

After graduating from Harvard, Prateek joined Democrats for Education Reform–CO as the policy director. Prateek wrote and helped pass legislation that expanded access to rigorous classes for low-income students, increased funding for school counselors to increase FAFSA completion rates, worked with a wide variety of stakeholders to increase resources for drop-out prevention efforts among other policies centered on traditionally disadvantaged students.

Prateek’s passion and career have focused on equity of opportunity for all students. Prateek loves to play basketball and enjoys watching re-runs of The Office in his free time.