Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Personal and Professional Skills
Timeline
Generic
Deborah Spitz

Deborah Spitz

Alexandria,VA

Summary

Dynamic book reviewer and blogger for over 15 years, skilled in content evaluation and comparative analysis. Recognized for delivering insightful critiques that enhance reader engagement. Professional education policy specialist with nearly three decades experience in writing and editing analytic reports and policy recommendations. Adept at meeting deadlines while providing constructive feedback and producing helpful, readable documents.

Work History

Education Program Specialist

U.S. Department of Education
2006 - 2025
  • Managed grant funding, ensuring proper allocation of resources for program success.
  • Contributed to policy development at the national and state level focused on improving educational outcomes for all students.
  • Implemented programs focused on increasing literacy from early childhood to adult learners.

Education Policy Analyst and Deputy Director

DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
2002 - 2006
  • Managed teams of attorneys and experts researching education and child/family policies in DC.
  • Published policy recommendations on state education governance leading to the creation of DC's Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
  • Analyzed and published recommendations to improve special education dispute resolution in DC public schools.

School Performance Analyst

District of Columbia Public Charter School Board
2001 - 2002
  • Monitored performance of local public charter schools and provided technical assistance for program improvement.
  • Supported School Board in making decisions about actions regarding new and existing charter schools.

Grants Writer and Developer

District of Columbia Public Schools
1999 - 2001
  • Developed grant proposals for federal grant programs for state/district-level school system with 146 schools and 70,000 students.
  • Developed grant-writing workshops and assisted school staff in developing proposals.

Education

J.D. - Law

Stanford Law School
Stanford, CA

Master of Science - Education Psychology

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
05-2016

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature And Composition

University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Skills

  • Written and verbal communication
  • Content evaluation
  • Comparative analysis
  • Plot Evaluation
  • Constructive criticism
  • Deadline-oriented

Personal and Professional Skills

Critical Analysis

  • Reviewed and analyzed over 500 fiction and nonfiction publications, identifying key themes.
  • Delivered in-depth critiques that enhanced reader understanding.
  • Earned high praise for insightful reviews that demonstrated nuanced grasp of literary techniques and historical contexts.

Writing and Editing

  • Developed numerous documents for professional use in the field of education policy, including policy analyses and recommendations, presentations, and guidance for public use.
  • Edited and proofread documents prepared by a staff of 8-12 employees.
  • Detail-oriented and skilled at addressing content issues and enhancing accuracy, clarity, and utility.

Content Strategy

  • Developed content of book blog over 15 years to consistently increase reader engagement. In past 12 months, blog has received over 70,000 views and over 55,000 viewers.
  • Responded regularly to requests from authors and publishers to review new releases. Published book reviews for new releases in a timely manner and to the satisfaction of publishers and agents.

Timeline

Education Program Specialist

U.S. Department of Education
2006 - 2025

Education Policy Analyst and Deputy Director

DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
2002 - 2006

School Performance Analyst

District of Columbia Public Charter School Board
2001 - 2002

Grants Writer and Developer

District of Columbia Public Schools
1999 - 2001

J.D. - Law

Stanford Law School

Master of Science - Education Psychology

George Mason University

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature And Composition

University of Arizona
Deborah Spitz
Want your own profile? Build for free at LiveCareer.com