Dr. Heather Hough is a nationally recognized expert in education policy, governance, and system improvement. With key strategic partners, she provides strategic guidance to drive policy change, strengthen public systems, and improve program implementation.

Strategic Visioning
Dr. Hough brings extensive experience in strategic planning, both as an executive director and through working directly with system leaders—including schools, districts, and policy agencies—to develop and implement effective strategies for improvement. She has a proven ability to guide organizations through complex decision-making processes, fostering alignment between policymakers, system leaders, and communities to drive systemic change. 

Policy & Program Design and Evaluation

Dr. Hough specializes in designing and analyzing policies and programs to ensure they are evidence-based, feasible, and impactful. She works with a wide range of partners to identify and address systemic barriers to successful implementation, develops clear theories of action and measurement strategies, and conducts rigorous research—both qualitative and quantitative—to assess impact. 

Continuous Improvement

Dr. Hough is an expert in continuous improvement methodologies, having served as an improvement advisor with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Hough supports organizational leaders in all aspects of the improvement cycle, including developing problem statements, designing and testing interventions, establishing measurement systems, analyzing data, and scaling successful practices. 

Communications and Outreach

Dr. Hough has extensive experience in policy outreach and impact, developing and executing strategic communication plans that effectively influence decision-makers. She specializes in media outreach, message development, partnership, and targeted engagement strategies to ensure that research and policy recommendations reach the right audiences. 

Editing and Writing

Dr. Hough is a skilled writer and editor, adept at crafting clear and compelling content for diverse audiences, including policymakers, educators, researchers, and the public. As the Executive Director of PACE, she effectively served as the editor-in-chief, overseeing the sourcing, development, and quality control of all publications. 

Fundraising and Development

Dr. Hough has significant experience in fundraising and development, having led efforts at PACE to secure over $3 million annually from a variety of funding sources. She is skilled in writing effective grant proposals, managing funder relationships, and demonstrating the impact of investments to grant boards. 

Meeting Facilitation

Dr. Hough designs and facilitates meetings and collaborative processes that help diverse groups identify challenges and reach consensus on solutions. She conducts pre-meeting interviews to surface key ideas, ensuring focused discussions, and provides clear pre- and post-meeting summaries to drive action. Bringing expertise in improvement science, human-centered design, and strategic foresight, Dr. Hough creates structured, inclusive, and results-driven engagements that move systems forward.

Support for Campaigns and Elected Officials

Dr. Hough is deeply committed to supporting leaders who advance policies that promote equity and systemic change. As a member of Emerge California, Dr. Hough has received training in campaign strategy, messaging, voter engagement, and coalition-building. Dr. Hough's ability to translate complex policy issues into accessible and persuasive messages makes her a valuable asset in campaign development and political leadership.