Leila Taherian

Research and analyze California education legislation, budget proposals, and regulatory developments to assess implications for K–12 students, educators, and school systems. Author a policy brief on teacher preparation and workforce development, analyzing evidence on teacher shortages, preparation pathways, and policy interventions to identify strategies for improving educator recruitment and retention in California.

Education Policy & Advocacy Intern at EdVoice (2026-06 – Present)

• Research and analyze California education legislation, budget proposals, and regulatory developments to assess implications for K–12 students, educators, and school systems.
• Author a policy brief on teacher preparation and workforce development, analyzing evidence on teacher shortages, preparation pathways, and policy interventions to identify strategies for improving educator recruitment and retention in California.

LEE Policy Advisor Fellow at Kipp SoCal (2026-03 – 2026-06)

• Conduct policy research and analysis on California education legislation, synthesizing findings into briefing materials to inform organizational strategy and leadership decision-making
• Translate complex statutory and regulatory language into clear, actionable guidance for internal stakeholders across instructional, operational, and leadership teams
• Support ongoing information gathering and research on state policy developments to identify risks, opportunities, and implications for system-level decision-making

Education Specialist at Redwood City School District (2025-08 – 2026-06)

Special Education Case Manager & Resource Learning Center Teacher

• Manage and coordinate individualized service plans for 25 high-need students, ensuring alignment of instructional services, accommodations, and compliance with federal and state requirements
• Facilitate collaboration among administrators, educators, service providers, and families to coordinate services and maintain accountability across stakeholders
• Designed and piloted an after-school academic intervention program for multilingual learners, improving targeted academic support aligned with assessment readiness

Special Education Math Teacher, Grades 6 & 8 at Talbot Middle School (2023-08 – 2025-06)

Teach For America Corps Member

• Delivered instruction in substantially separate and inclusive settings for high-need student populations in an under-resourced district
• Managed a caseload of 30 students, coordinating individualized service plans and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and families
• Designed and implemented targeted academic intervention systems, increasing homework completion by 40% among participating students

IGNITE Fellowship Undergraduate Fellow, Virtual Classroom Tutor at Teach For America (2021-10 – 2022-04)

• Provided individualized and small-group academic support to students in grades 3–6 across multiple school districts

Master's in Education for Equity and Social Justice in Education – Boston University (2025-05)

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – University of California, Santa Cruz (2023-03)