by ashley stevens
April 13, 2024
Tony will coordinate with the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of Education and advise on implementation of the initiative.
Lawanda Toney has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Communications and Partnerships in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Secretary.
Tony was recently promoted to this role after serving as a senior advisor in the Department of Education's Office of Communications and Outreach for two years.
Tony said. black companies What she's most excited about is “continuing our priorities around college tuition, mental health, and academic achievement,” while also “being able to plan and coordinate with the secretary and chief of staff on agency priorities.” .
In his new role, Tony said he will be responsible for coordinating with Chief of Staff and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and providing advice on implementation of initiatives. She will also represent Secretary Cardona at conferences, seminars, and high-level meetings.
Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Tony served as Director of Strategic Communications for the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA). Before he worked at National PTA, he managed marketing programs, planned special events, and created communications campaigns for major retailers, nonprofit organizations, publishing, and advertising companies.
National PTA Executive Director Nathan Monell praised Tony's leadership in leading the National PTA's “award-winning strategic communications team” for more than a decade.
“She elevated the voices of parents on issues that impact the well-being, safety, and educational success of schools, students, and families. She brings timely resources to the field to further our mission of providing an equitable and safe educational experience for all of our nation's children and enabling them to reach their fullest potential. ,” Monell said. “Mrs. Tony will be a strong addition and a great asset to the goals of Director Cardona and his team.”
A native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, Tony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University and a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Trinity University. She is also a member of her ColorComm, an organization for women of color in all fields of communications.
Tony says the education he received at a historically black college helped prepare him for this top federal leadership role.
“Howard taught me patience, tenacity and high performance,” Tony said. “I've continued those tenants throughout my career.”
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