Jul 16

The Center Welcomes Jennifer Coco

 The Center is thrilled to announce the recent hire of Jennifer Coco, who joins the team as Local Policy Manager. In this role, Coco will focus on leading a portfolio of ongoing special education initiatives in New Orleans for the Center.

Jennifer Coco“Having had the opportunity to examine how parents and students with disabilities are navigating the all-charter system in New Orleans and partner with local stakeholders to develop specific recommendations to improve access and outcomes, we are thrilled to have Jennifer join the team and be able to support the critical work through to implementation.”

Prior to joining the Center, Coco most recently served as founding Director of Policy and Advocacy at New Pathways New Orleans where she designed and led the organization’s special education work, including the creation of the Special Education Consortium, through which nonprofit and school board partners collaboratively defined a citywide vision for special education services across New Orleans’ decentralized school system.

Coco holds a JD from the DePaul University College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in both political science and English from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Additionally, she is the recipient of a number of awards and recognitions, notably including Gambit Media’s coveted 40 Under 40 and the Louisiana School Psychology Association’s President’s Award. 

“I’m thrilled to join the Center and bring the team’s national expertise to my ongoing work improving special education programs in New Orleans, while leveraging what we’re learning in New Orleans to help other districts nationwide,” said Coco.