JAMES FOGARTY

A+ SCHOOLS

James Fogarty is the executive director of A+ Schools, an organization advocating for Pittsburgh's children and focused on supporting schools to improve so our students will be prepared for college, career, and life.

His journey to A+ Schools began as a high school and college student, where he taught for multiple summers with what is now known as the Breakthrough Collaborative — an intensive academic enrichment summer program for middle school students taught and run by high school and college students.

At 18 years of age, he ran for and won a seat on his local Advisory Neighborhood Commission in Washington, D.C., becoming one of the youngest people to hold elected office in the District.

After graduating from Georgetown University, Fogarty went on to the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs in San Francisco. His Coro experience led to a number of issue advocacy and political campaigns where he learned the intersection between policy, politics, and community organizing. His training as a lawyer and time working for a Silicon Valley firm, further strengthened his belief that all children deserve access to a high-quality education and the access to and experience with networks and opportunities afforded to those who attend the best schools in the nation.