Sue Fothergill

Sue Fothergill is a veteran political and policy advocate having organized winning advocacy campaigns at the local, state, and national level. As Interim National Organizing Director for RepresentUs, she’s led several pro-democracy campaigns across the country. 

Before joining RepresentUs, Sue led campaigns for nearly two decades focused on improving equity and opportunity in public education. She co-founded and co-led the Baltimore Education Coalition which successfully spearheaded a billion-dollar investment in new school construction for Baltimore City public schools. Sue played a key role as founding co-Executive Director of Strong Schools Maryland, a statewide effort to achieve Maryland’s historic campaign for systemic education reform, known as “Birth to college and career,” with the passage of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. She facilitated the establishment of the Coalition for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a coalition that has grown in membership and represents a diverse range of public education stakeholders. 

As Director of Strategic Programming for Attendance Works, she served as an advisor to President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keepers” campaign, serving on the National Student Engagement and Success Center. Sue also facilitated the establishment of the National Network to Advance State Attendance Policy and Practice, which includes representation from state education agencies and education reform and research institutions. From this organized coalition, thirty-six states adopted chronic absence as a leading indicator of school quality for state accountability plans within the framework of the Every Student Succeeds Act. 

Sue has an extensive civic engagement background including serving as the Director of Advocacy and co-founder of three public charter schools and the City Neighbors Foundation with a commitment to student-centered learning, grounded by the idea that every student should be known, loved, and inspired. She serves on the Board of Maryland READS and the Maryland Alliance for Racial Equity in Education. Sue graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Baltimore with a BA in Public Policy and is the parent of two wonderful children.