Derrell Bradford

Derrell Bradford is the president of 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now. In his role, Bradford leads 50CAN’s SPARK work, and trains and recruits local leaders across the country to serve as executive directors of state CANs, advocacy fellows, and citizen advocates. He also leads the National Voices fellowship which focuses on education policy, media, and political collaboration.

Bradford previously served as the executive director at New Jersey’s Better Education for Kids. At B4K Bradford worked to secure passage of the tenure reform legislation TEACH NJ. Prior to B4K, Bradford spent nine years with New Jersey’s Excellent Education for Everyone (E3) as director of communications and then executive director. While there he also served on the state’s Educator Effectiveness Task Force.

Bradford frequently contributes to education debates in print, digital, radio, and TV media. He serves on several boards dedicated to putting the needs of students and families first, including Success Academy Charter Schools, yes. every kid., the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the advisory boards of the Alliance for Catholic Education at Notre Dame and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, the PIE Network, and was the founding board chair of EdBuild. A native of Baltimore, Bradford attended the St. Paul’s School for Boys and received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania.