Sanda Balaban

Sanda Balaban is an accomplished education professional with a diverse background in teaching, edtech, policy, and consulting. She is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard's Graduate School of Education with a B.A. in English and a master's in education. Before founding YVote and Next Generation Politics, Balaban served at the Governor's Committee on Scholastic Achievement, Facing History and Ourselves, the NYC Department of Education, Goldman Sachs, Ford Foundation, TechBoston, and The Teachers Network, among others.

Balaban's passion for education innovation and equity has led her to specialize in network leadership, strategic learning initiatives, autonomy zones, empowerment schools and other emerging approaches to educational programs. Her network of contacts in the education industry is expansive and has allowed her to execute successful programs that empower students and facilitate changes in education policy.