Leslie Sale, Ph.D.

Leslie Sale joined ESG in 2023 to support its pathways design and implementation work. Leslie is well-versed in state-level education policy as well as implementation processes which has enabled her work with state and local partners in navigating policy landscapes and helping them approach strategic planning and decision making to strengthen and scale pathway programming. While at ESG, Leslie has managed a variety of pathways-connected work, many with work-based learning and accelerated pathways to postsecondary success as priorities, including the New Skills ready network, LAUNCH, and the West Tennessee Pathways Network.

Prior to joining ESG, Leslie was executive director for a registered neighborhood organization and nonprofit dedicated to promoting the health and vibrancy of the built environment in downtown Denver and has also been program coordinator for a small Boston-based nonprofit focused on redesigning curricula to include global literacy and durable skills.

Most recently, Leslie served as the Director of Policy for the Virginia Department of Education where she managed the agency’s legislative implementation plan and worked to advance the educational policy goals of the Governor’s office and department. She collaborated with state and local stakeholders, advocacy groups, and national educational organizations, among others, to support work related to a number of agency priorities, including promoting innovation in preK-12 settings that ensure students are college and career ready.

Leslie earned her B.A. in International Relations and Economics from James Madison University and her Ph.D. in Comparative Politics from Boston University.

Why are you in this work?

While I was fortunate to have early positive and formative experiences in Virginia’s public education system that fostered my general love for learning, I also remember times when I struggled to stay engaged in coursework when I could not connect what I was learning in my classes to real-world value. This has motivated my commitment to helping build educational pathways that are engaging and transformational for all learners.

Why ESG?

I was initially drawn to ESG for its mission to deliver on the promise and potential of our educational system to enable economic mobility and prosperity. I also appreciate how thoughtful and deliberate ESG and its staff is in its work; it makes it that much more impactful.