Kelly McManus

McManus leads the education team at Arnold Ventures, where she places a strong focus on accountability, value, and return on investment in education while building support for evidence-based policies at both the state and federal levels. Her work spans two decades across K-12 and higher education, including initiatives that connect education and workforce development to economic mobility and stability. She is engaged in career pathways work, ensuring that students have multiple routes to economic security. Prior to joining Arnold Ventures, McManus served as director of government affairs for EdTrust, worked extensively in state-level education policy and advocacy in Arizona, and served as a middle school English teacher with Teach For America in Philadelphia. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wake Forest University.