Annie Blackledge

Annie Blackledge is on an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignment from Casey Family Programs with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education. Prior to joining Casey Family Programs, Ms. Blackledge was Program Supervisor for Dropout Reduction with the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). In this position, she was responsible for the development and oversight of a statewide dropout reduction program that demonstrated significant gains in the academic achievement of vulnerable students, the creation of Dropout Early Warning and Intervention Data System, and the staffing of a State-level, interagency legislative workgroup. She guided successful dropout reduction policy and practice initiatives, including the development and passage of several pieces of agency-requested legislation that led to the development of a statewide dropout reengagement program and State law that defines vulnerable student populations to receive priority for services in State dropout reduction programs. Before coming to OSPI, Ms. Blackledge served as Education Program Manager for the Washington State Children's Administration, Department of Social and Health Services. In this position, she was responsible for implementing school stability legislation and developing and overseeing programs, policies, and procedures relating to education (preschool through postsecondary) for foster children. Ms. Blackledge has more than 15 years of experience in education and youth services and an extensive background in serving vulnerable youth; child welfare, dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement programming; and policy and program development.