The Interview with Denise Forte

JM: EdTrust is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. What does it mean to you personally to lead the organization at this moment?

DF: I've always been a huge fan of EdTrust. I worked very closely with Kati Haycock when I was on Capitol Hill, and I followed the organization's efforts closely. EdTrust made it clear that students had to be at the center—not the adults. There are many organizations focused on adults and the education system, but not enough that are laser-focused on supporting students of color and students from underserved communities.

Being able to lead at a time when, sadly, students of color and students from low-income communities are still being denied access to high-quality schools is deeply meaningful. At a time like this, it's critical that we continue working tirelessly on behalf of these students.

JM: You mentioned Kati, the founder of EdTrust. How did she influence you?

DF: To this day, she hasn't stopped. She's a truth-teller. She tells it like it is, and if people don't like what she says, she says it anyway. She's fearless. We call ourselves fearless advocates, and I think that comes from Kati's unwavering commitment to centering students and making it clear that our work must always focus on student success.

Kati has an incredible ability to stay laser-focused on the issues while elevating students. There's no one better. I try to emulate her, particularly when it comes to being clear about our mission here at EdTrust.

JM: What does it take to become a fearless advocate?

DF: You don't take much guff. You don't tolerate nonsense. And you tell the truth.

At EdTrust, we rely on data and evidence. The policies we pursue are grounded in both. When we look at student performance data by race, gender, disability, and economic status, that's when you become your fiercest advocate—because the data is on your side.

JM: What is one moment during your tenure at EdTrust that you are especially proud of?

DF: I've been with EdTrust for nearly eight years, including the past three as CEO. One accomplishment I'm especially proud of is that we now have a presence in eight states. We partner with many organizations, but we also have boots on the ground.

It means so much when people come up to us and say, "Thank you for getting out there and telling the truth." Whether we're in Texas, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Tennessee, California, Michigan, or New York, people know that when they see the EdTrust name, it's backed by truth. That makes me especially proud.

JM: What makes those partnerships work?

DF: We've been able to bring a diverse set of voices to the table. We may not agree on every issue, but we agree on a few important things: we'll use data to pursue the truth, we'll stand by the truth, and we'll hold decision-makers accountable. That's the only way we'll achieve the student outcomes we want.

JM: Looking back, can you share a professional setback or challenge? How did you bounce back?

DF: I spent 20 years on Capitol Hill, and I faced several setbacks. I lost votes on the House floor and had to repeatedly fight to reauthorize legislation, whether it involved juvenile justice reform or elementary and secondary education.

Those experiences taught me resilience. You can come back from failure, but first you have to understand what went wrong, where you fell short, and what led to the outcome. That's often the clearest path to finding both the solution and the way forward.

JM: Were there one or two mentors who played a particularly important role in shaping your leadership style or confidence?

DF: I've had many mentors, but one stands out: Bobby Vassar, retired chief counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

When I first joined Congressman Bobby Scott's office, Bobby Vassar was the legislative director. He had an incredible presence and truly encouraged and empowered me to excel.

Because of him, I try to empower others to be their best. Micromanaging doesn't help anyone, but giving people the tools, clarity, and freedom to succeed does. That's what I learned from Bobby. I still text him today. He's a dear friend and a wonderful mentor.

JM: What advice would you give to those searching for mentors?

DF: Bobby Vassar was incredibly thoughtful. He took the time to deeply understand issues and even challenged his own perspectives. That had a lasting impact on me.

When you're looking for a mentor, it's important to find someone with whom you share some alignment. But it's equally important to identify the qualities you hope to emulate in that person.

JM: Looking ahead, what must education become over the next 10 to 20 years to truly deliver on its promise for every student?

DF: We need a singular focus on students and their success. But we also have to redefine what success looks like.

Too often, we set our sights too narrowly. It's not enough to simply help students graduate. We need to prepare them to thrive as adults—whether they pursue college, a career, or another path.

At EdTrust, we believe every student should have the opportunity to learn to their fullest potential. That means ensuring students who want advanced coursework can access Advanced Placement classes and other challenging opportunities.

Another critical piece is strong college and career advising. We're currently working with middle and high school students, and many have told us they don't receive enough information about coursework, internships, or career pathways early enough.

If young people don't have access to that information, how can they make informed decisions about their futures?

JM: I'm sure your role at EdTrust keeps you very busy. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

DF: I love gardening. There's something special about putting my hands in the dirt and growing flowers.

Lately, another hobby has taken over—watching my 14-year-old, who plays ice hockey as a goalie. My Instagram feed is now filled with goalie videos.

JM: Before we say goodbye, is there anything you'd like to add?

DF: I'm incredibly proud of the team at EdTrust and the progress we're seeing.

There are plenty of stories about declining proficiency rates and the challenges schools have faced recovering from the pandemic. But there are also inspiring stories from across the country where students of color are thriving, achieving, and rebounding successfully.

We need to talk more about those success stories. We see them firsthand, and I believe many of the policies we advocate for are helping drive that progress at the state level. Success is happening—we simply need more of it.

JM: Thank you, Denise, for sharing your time and insights.

Related Story

"Celebrating 30 Years of Advancing Student Excellence" by Denise Forte.

To learn more about EdTrust, visit www.EdTrust.org.