Rebeca Shackleford

Director of Federal Government Relations

Rebeca Shackleford (she/her/ella) joined All4Ed in August of 2021 as Director of Federal Government Relations supporting the organization’s federal policy and advocacy agenda to ensure all students graduate prepared to complete postsecondary education and achieve success in a rapidly changing world.

Ms. Shackleford has dedicated her career to educational equity and brings both practitioner and policy experience to her work along with expertise in early childhood education, bilingual education, emergent literacy, and English Learners. Her passion for elevating community voices in advocacy comes from her own experience as an Afro-Latina and former English Learner.

Prior to joining, All4Ed, Ms. Shackleford led policy and partnerships for the KIPP Foundation where she oversaw federal advocacy actions including the organization’s first Alumni Capitol Hill Advocacy Week, federal appropriations strategy, and supported KIPP’s regions on their state and local legislative strategies. Previously, she was the Manager of Data and Impact for the Education, Workforce Development and Evaluation component of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latinx civil rights organization. Ms. Shackleford began her career as a teacher before becoming the founding Head of School of a Montessori school in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Shackleford earned a bachelor’s in early childhood education and American history, with a focus on civil rights, from Fort Hays State University, Montessori teacher training from Centro de Entrenamiento Montessori Sierra Madre, and a master’s in education policy studies from the George Washington University.

Articles by Rebeca

December 19, 2025

Publication | AI, Career and Technical Education, College and Career Pathways, High Schools

The Power of One: Balancing Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence in College and Career Counseling

As technology rapidly reshapes education, artificial intelligence promises scalable solutions to longstanding challenges in college and career counseling. With student-to-counselor ratios averaging 376:1 nationwide—far above the recommended 250:1—the appeal of AI-powered platforms is undeniable. Yet in our rush to solve the counselor shortage through technology, we risk sacrificing what makes guidance truly transformative: authentic human connection.
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December 19, 2025

Publication | Career and Technical Education, College and Career Pathways, Federal Education Budget, High Schools

Strategic Resilience: Leveraging Federal Funds for College and Career Counseling in an Uncertain Era

In today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, college and career counseling has never been more critical for students’ success. However, educators across the nation face unprecedented challenges, with excessively high student-to-counselor ratios leaving many young people without adequate guidance to navigate their educational and career pathways. This situation has been further complicated by recent disruptions to federal education funding, creating uncertainty for districts that depend on these resources to support comprehensive counseling programs.
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September 4, 2024

Publication | College and Career Pathways

A Vision for Equitable Pathways: Enhancing Support and Innovation in College and Career Counseling 

All4Ed and EdTrust describe an ideal system where pathways help students transition seamlessly from K-12 to higher education and careers.
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March 28, 2024

Career and Technical Education, College and Career Pathways, Congress, High Schools, Higher Education, US Department of Education

Reimagining America’s High Schools  

This pillar is a part of the Pathways to Progress: A Federal Roadmap for College and Career Pathways. All4Ed’s federal pathways agenda encompasses a…
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March 21, 2024

Career and Technical Education, College and Career Pathways, Congress, High Schools, Higher Education, US Department of Education

System Alignment 

This pillar is a part of the Pathways to Progress: A Federal Roadmap for College and Career Pathways. The effectiveness of college and career…
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March 13, 2024

Career and Technical Education, College and Career Pathways, Congress, High Schools, Higher Education, US Department of Education

Systems

This pillar is a part of the Pathways to Progress: A Federal Roadmap for College and Career Pathways. Learners will only have access to…
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