Chris Barron is a Senior Strategic Communications Manager at WestEd and serves as Communications Lead for the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northwest.
Barron manages strategic communications efforts appropriate for diverse populations to increase the adoption of evidence-based practices. His communications work enables educational partners to learn about and apply the most up-to-date research on high-leverage issues of policy and practice.
Barron brings connections to an extensive network of national and state education and advocacy leaders to WestEd. He has 15-plus years of experience in education communications, working for a state education agency, a statewide advocacy organization, and a national assessment organization. His expertise is in communications strategy, public affairs, marketing, and digital and social media.
Barron joined WestEd from Smarter Balanced, where he served as Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs for more than 5 years. Prior to that, he worked for the Partnership for Learning in Seattle and led the statewide Ready Washington coalition, which helped students and their families better understand the educational journey and how to be prepared for successful futures after high school. Barron started in education at the state of Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, where he led agency communications, specializing in standards, assessments, and college and career readiness.
Barron graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Communications/Journalism and a minor in Political Science.