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David Hinojosa, J.D., Named IDRA National Director of Policy

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San Antonio (March 20, 2015) – IDRA welcomes David Hinojosa, J.D., as the new IDRA National Director of Policy. Hinojosa is well-known for his litigation and policy work as the Southwest Regional Counsel at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

Hinojosa will join IDRA’s Director of Policy, Dr. Albert Cortez, in developing leadership within communities, schools, and policymaking bodies to advocate educational policies that assure educational opportunity for every child.

“IDRA is delighted that David will be joining our policy team with his deep commitment to equity for all children,” said Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, IDRA President & CEO. “He brings over a decade of experience providing legal advice on education and policy on both state and national issues, including serving as one of the principal authors of English language learner monitoring and school finance legislation.”
          
As new IDRA National Director of Policy beginning April 7, Hinojosa will support the integration and coordination of national policy reform efforts impacting the education of all students, with special emphasis on minority, low-income, ELL and recent immigrant populations.

IDRA’s work connects with policymakers at all levels of government, public and private educational institutions, advocacy organizations, the broader research community, the media, and individual practitioners in education and related fields. IDRA’s expanded policy team will provide information on policy issues, training on the effective integration of research information and advocacy, and technical assistance in identifying policy issues and developing reform strategies.

“The opportunity to direct IDRA’s national policy work and to work with the organization’s great leaders is one that I am incredibly humbled to accept,” said Hinojosa. “I look forward to carrying on IDRA’s legacy in empowering underserved communities and pushing for policies that ensure a high quality education for all school children.”

Since joining MALDEF in 2003, Hinojosa has served as a staff attorney, senior litigator, and, for the past three years, as MALDEF’s Southwest Regional Counsel, directing the office’s litigation and policy work since joining MALDEF in 2003. He became a leading litigator and advocate in the area of civil rights, with an emphasis in education. He has spearheaded several education impact cases, including school finance/educational opportunity cases in New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. Mr. Hinojosa participated as one of the primary legal and policy advisors for national amici in the Fisher vs. Texas case. He has testified before local and state governments, lectured at universities and law schools, served as an expert panelist at several local, state and national conferences, and written two book chapters on school finance litigation, one of which is pending publication by the Harvard Education Press. A proud graduate of Edgewood High School, Mr. Hinojosa received his bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University and his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.

 

Media Contact: Christie L. Goodman, APR, at IDRA, 210-444-1710; christie.goodman@idra.org

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