Hopeton Hess

As a Research and Policy Associate, Hopeton conducts research related to ECE policy in California and educator engagement. As a member of the California Policy team, Hopeton supported the preparation and review of a data snapshot on Transitional Kindergarten and recommendations for the American Rescue Plan Act. Early in his career, Hopeton was an elementary school teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, where he taught 6th grade math and writing.  Later, as a researcher at Keen Independent Research , he conducted disparity and workforce equity studies.  As a researcher at WestEd, he focused on exploring the effects of a game-based curriculum on elementary students’ social-emotional learning and student achievement in STEM. Additionally, he investigated how to increase access to STEM curriculum and motivation to pursue STEM careers for rural high school students in northern California. Hopeton earned his master’s degree in Educational Policy from Arizona State University. In his free time, he enjoys collecting and listening to vinyl records.