Anya Grottel-Brown (she/her) leads Teach Plus’s communications effort, shaping brand, thought leadership, and media strategy nationally and across 12 states on K-12 education issues, with special focus on the organization’s policy priorities. She oversees a comprehensive portfolio of communications products, including press materials, policy briefs, op-eds, and the organization’s website, blog, and social media presence. Anya develops storytelling and op-ed writing skills among teacher leaders in Teach Plus programs, amplifying educator voices and empowering them to create compelling narratives that inform public discourse on issues vital to students, families, and communities. She launched and leads the Senior Writing Fellows program for Teach Plus alumni to sharpen their op-ed writing on timely topics, and the Leading Edge Fellowship, which trains educators to become skilled communicators about AI and other emerging technologies reshaping education.
Prior to joining Teach Plus in 2014, Anya was a member of the executive team at two public relations agencies specializing in education and non-profit communications. Anya’s work in education communications has been recognized with two PR News NonProfit PR Awards for Best Media Relations and one of the year’s Best Marketing Campaign and Best Event PR Awards. A seasoned media trainer, Anya has successfully prepared hundreds of teachers nationwide to work with the press. Her how-to article “The Reluctant Spokesperson,” published in the PRNews Media Training Guidebook, offers a roadmap for turning reluctant spokespeople into an audience invested in working with the press.
Born in Russia, Anya holds an Honors BA in East Asian Studies from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She spent five years in Japan, where she taught English and reported for a regional newspaper. Anya’s commentary has been published in The Guardian, Education Post, and on Medium. She lives in Los Angeles.
