Laura Encalade

Laura Encalade is the Executive Director of the School of Public Policy and an Assistant Professor at Lipscomb University. Her career focuses on strategic planning, educational equity, and organizational leadership. She previously served as co-president at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), leading strategic initiatives that increased revenue by 200% and expanded partnerships. At the Tennessee Department of Education, she managed the implementation of the state’s Tennessee Succeeds strategic plan and allocated over $30 million in federal funds for education initiatives. Her roles included director of policy and research for the Tennessee State Board of Education, overseeing academic standards reviews and teacher preparation evaluations.

Encalade began her career as a middle school social studies teacher in St. Louis and holds a BA in political science and global studies from the University of Tennessee, an M.Ed. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and an MPP from Vanderbilt University. Her work emphasizes data-driven decision-making, systemic educational reform, and community-focused outcomes.

She played a key role in Tennessee’s $500 million Race to the Top grant, designing educator talent strategies and compensation policies. Her leadership has driven measurable impacts in school improvement, curriculum development, and learning recovery programs.