Fonda Sutton is the Partner leading the Public Engagement and advocacy investment team at Education Forward DC. She believes in the brilliance of the young people of this city – and the families and communities that they represent. As the product of strong public schools and great public school educators who held high standards for her, Fonda views her work as a funder at Education Forward DC as a powerful lever for getting students and families across this city the great schools that they deserve. Prior to joining Education Forward DC in 2018, Fonda served as the chief political advisor for DC Public Schools (DCPS), managing the school district’s policy, legislative, and intergovernmental affairs. A founding board member of EL Haynes, she helped to establish two public charter schools in DC and has served as a consultant to schools, authorizers, states, and urban city districts. Fonda has blended over twenty years of legal and policy experience in non-profits, schools, consulting organizations, and government with her passion for serving children and families. Having earned a BS from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, a J.D. from its Law Center and an Executive Master’s in Leadership from its McDonough School of Business, Fonda is a diehard Georgetown Hoyas fan. She grew up in Kinston, North Carolina, and has made her home for many years in DC’s Manor Park neighborhood.