The League of Education Voters (LEV) is a left-of-center political advocacy organization founded in September 2001 based in Seattle, Washington. [1] Its charitable affiliate is the LEV Foundation and its PAC affiliate is the Education Voters Political Action Fund.
Its stated aims include advocacy for increasing the quality of public education in Washington state as well as various critical race theory-aligned “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” objectives, such as increasing the proportion of minority teachers in the Washington state public school system. [2]
Activities
On July 28, 2020, the League of Education Voters hosted a book discussion with Jennifer Harvey, author of Raising White Kids: Bringing up Children in a Racially Unjust America. According to a report of the event, Harvey advised, among other things, that “colorblindness” is “a kind of aggression”; that no child is “too young” to talk about race; and that adults should help children “take action” by, for instance, attending protests or placing signs on their houses. [3]
In May 2021, Washington state enacted the Fair Start for Kids Act. The bill provides for increased funding for childcare programs, building on the state’s existing Working Connections program, which offers subsidized childcare to poor families. LEV hosted a webinar in support of the bill, featuring the president of the Washington Child Care Centers Association, Luc Jasmin III, touting raises given to her staff. [4]
In March 2022, after the Washington legislature dedicated more than $600 million over three years to hiring initiatives for public school counselors, nurses, social workers, and psychologists, Jake Vela, director of policy for the League of Education Voters, called the legislation insufficient, admonishing the legislature for distributing funding equally among school districts. [5]
Leadership
Lauri Hennessey is the chief executive officer of the League of Education Voters. Prior to joining LEV, she was vice president for engagement at the Woodland Park Zoo as well as the director of public affairs in the northwest for Edelman, a public relations firm. At Edelman, Hennessey’s clients included the University of Washington and the Bezos Family Foundation. Additionally, Hennessey has held positions at Community Schools Collaboration, the YMCA of Greater Seattle, the Municipal League of King County, and KIRO Radio in Seattle. [6]
Hennessey sits on the boards of or has been involved with the Seattle Chamber, Seattle Rotary, the Western Washington University Journalism School, and the Washington state chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus. Previously, Hennessey sat on the boards of Treehouse, Mary’s Place, Thrive Washington, Southwest Youth and Family Services, and the Seattle Men’s and Women’s Choruses. [7]
Tony Byrd is the chair of the League of Education Voters and the executive director of the Washington state region of Teach for America. Previously, Byrd was principal and assistant superintendent at Edmonds Public Schools, and a sixth grade teacher (in the Teach for America Corps) in Pasadena, California. [8]