Jocelyn Pickford is an education policy and communications specialist focused on understanding and promoting practitioner-informed policies across the private, public and non-profit sectors as a Senior Affiliate with HCM Strategists. She began her career in education as a high school English teacher in a regular and special education inclusion classroom and is now a public and private school parent and recent member of her district school board. Previously, Jocelyn led the design, launch and implementation of the School Ambassador Fellowship at the U.S. Department of Education to integrate teachers into the national education policy dialogue.

Jocelyn’s passion for her work was seeded during her own public school education and took root during her classroom teaching experience in Fairfax County, Virginia, where she led action research and presented instructional materials to a variety of audiences. She seeks to engage parents and practitioners in conversations about education policy at every level, knowing this work must be done with people and not to people.

Jocelyn earned her bachelor’s degree from Trinity College (CT), working as a professional writer and editor prior to becoming a teacher, and obtained her master’s in secondary education from George Washington University. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and children and is an unapologetic Philly sports fan.