Jeff Smink is the deputy director at The Education Trust–New York. He works closely with the executive director to develop and implement the organization’s strategic goals and key initiatives while leading policy and advocacy strategies at the state and local levels.

Smink brings over 20 years of experience in national, state, and local education policy, working on issues affecting students from cradle to career. Most recently, he led his own consulting practice, collaborating with various organizations, including the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and Learning Ovations, focusing on the issue of early literacy.

Prior to consulting, Smink served as co-founder and vice president of policy at the National Summer Learning Association and New York State director at the National Center on Time and Learning. Smink additionally served as a political appointee of Governor Edward Rendell at the Pennsylvania Department of Education and as a legislative associate for the Council of Chief State School Officers in Washington, DC.

Smink lives in his hometown of Rochester with his wife, two children, and two dogs. He is active in the community and has been a member of the Democrat and Chronicle Board of Contributors, the Mayor’s Early Learning Council, the Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester. Jeff earned an EdM from Harvard University and a BA with teaching certification from Allegheny College.