The Opportunity Trust

Michaela Echols is a proud alum of the Ferguson-Florissant School District and FOCUS Youth Leadership St. Louis. The inspiration for her professional trajectory came from these entities, which taught her about education inequality in the St. Louis area. Later, she learned from non-profits in the U.S. and abroad that were innovatively working to address the problem in areas with socio-economic conditions similar to St. Louis.

Michaela has a background in data analytics and previously worked in the Performance Management Technology department at the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families. There, she primarily assisted data scientists in evaluating Philadelphia’s Community Schools and universal pre-k program while supporting the development of new evidence-based quality indicators for the City’s network of adult education providers. Michaela holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and a M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania. Michaela’s ultimate goal is to support the cultivation of educational environments that are accessible and enriching for every student and family in St. Louis. Michaela enjoys spending quality time with her family, learning new languages, traveling, and playing tennis.

Email Michaela: mechols@theopportunitytrust.org