Tracy Johnson is a passionate and dedicated education policy professional with nearly ten years’ experience creating and advocating for data-driven, systemic policy solutions that improve the lives of students, their families, and their communities.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing from Abilene Christian university, Tracy began her career advising low income, first generation students through the federal Upward Bound program, first in Abilene, TX, and then in Austin, TX. Although she thoroughly enjoyed working with students, she felt called to address broader systemic inequities, which led her to work at the Texas Education Agency. There, she supported Texas’ 5.5 million students across 1200 school districts by managing several of the state’s college readiness initiatives. Tracy created the infrastructure for a $10+ million annual reimbursement program authorized by HB 3 (86R), oversaw a $25 million college prep grant for Texas’ most struggling juniors and seniors, and piloted grants that improved districts’ college, career, and military readiness strategies.
After leaving TEA, Tracy joined the Office of State Representative Harold V. Dutton, Jr. as the Education and Workforce Policy Advisor. Tracy co-authored the 2022 House Public Education Committee Interim Report while shaping the committee’s agenda for the 88th Legislative Session. Most notably, she helped author and carry HB 11, which sought to enhance educator recruitment, retention, and preparation. Additionally, Tracy supported the initial crafting of HB 1605, which reformed state curriculum and instruction processes, and HB 100, which, if it had passed, would have provided a much needed increase in sustainable state funding to schools. Tracy is a subject-matter expert on P-20 education policy, having written bills and/or other legislative correspondence relating to childcare, early literacy, workforce development, school safety, mental health, and charter schools.
Tracy will graduate in May 2024 with a Master’s in Public Affairs from the prestigious LBJ school of Public Affairs at UT Austin after completing a year-long thesis researching the equity of Texas’ school finance system. She resides in Austin with her husband and 3 beloved animals. Her hobbies include practicing yoga, seeing live music, solving crossword puzzles, and enjoying Austin’s incredible food and outdoors.