Michael Ham leads policy work at The Learning Accelerator (TLA), a U.S.-based national nonprofit that works at the intersection of technology and student-driven innovation. His focus areas include educational technology, innovative instructional practice, and research-driven strategic policy advising at the state and district levels. Prior to joining TLA, Michael served as an Education Pioneers Impact Fellow in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology. Michael's work is deeply informed by his experiences teaching and leading in Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, FL. He is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, where, when not working, he is training for marathon distance open-water swims with the goal of crossing the English Channel one day.