Work — Kathleen Carroll

communications in the public interest

I believe in the power of a great idea. But even the best ideas need enthusiasm and evidence to unleash their potential. So since 2014, I’ve worked as an independent strategist, writer, and editor, helping changemakers, researchers, and funders prove what’s possible by sharing their insights and experiences. Together, we work to advance opportunity and promote an inclusive, expansive, equitable future.

As a strategist, I’ve partnered with organization leaders to sharpen vision statements and plan debate-shaping communications over the long term. As a curator of stories, I’ve conducted candid, trusting, and telling interviews on preschool reading rugs, city buses, and Zoom - sometimes on the same day. And as a writer and editor, I’ve helped researchers and program officers transform a stack of dense findings into a sharp, visually compelling publication; designed and crafted narrative series that inform and inspire; become a trusted collaborator for leaders looking to articulate their vision before a wide audience; and sharpened organizational analyses and annual reports to maximize impact and influence.

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THINKING AND WRITING ABOUT EDUCATION

I’ve written about education policy, practice, and research since 2002. As a manuscript editor at Education Next, I translate and contextualize research for an influential audience of decision-makers. As an independent writer and editor, I've written and edited books, longform magazine pieces, policy analyses, case studies, research papers, and issue briefs. And as the founding Publications Editor at TNTP, I edited and published 16 reports and established a new organizational voice by launching the TNTP blog.

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editorials and news reporting

During a 14-year newspaper career, I worked the K-12 beat, investigated corruption, and wrote daily editorials at The Record (Bergen County, NJ). My work won the nation’s top prizes in education and investigative reporting from the Education Writers Association and Investigative Reporters and Editors, along with national, regional, and state honors from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Livingston Awards, the Society of Silurians, Newswomen’s Club of New York, NJ Press Association, and more.

I got my start answering phones and making copies at the New York Times, where I also got to: Google things for reporters all over the world as an assistant on the foreign desk; report on education, the 9/11 Neediest Cases Fund, and a lot of late-night fires for metro; and write some very interesting obituaries.