Lauren Norton

Lauren Norton joined ESG in 2019 to support smoother student transitions from high school into postsecondary education. As a Director, she provides technical assistance to states, institutional systems, and partner organizations on aligning policies and practices across their K-12 and higher education systems to ensure that all students have the academic and navigational supports they need to be successful. In her tenure at ESG, she has supported a diverse set of geographies around multiple high-impact issues, including dual enrollment, advising, and financial aid. Most recently, she has led ESG’s efforts around redesigning the college admissions process, including through Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative.

Prior to joining ESG, Lauren served as an Innovation Strategist at the District of Columbia Public Schools, where she supported numerous initiatives that leveraged cross-sector partnerships to reimagine the school experience. Lauren got her start in education as a high school English teacher. Lauren earned a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri.

Why are you in this work?

As our economy has rapidly changed over the past century, our education system hasn’t always kept pace. We are at a critical time where we need to work together to build a collective vision for the future–one that is grounded in providing equitable access and opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved. At ESG, I am excited to partner closely with policymakers and practitioners from across the country to help shape that vision.

Why ESG?

In transitioning from the classroom to a district office to ESG, an organization with a national footprint, I am driven by the potential scale of impact our work can have for students.