About
About Ascendways
Ascendways, LLC is a consulting firm founded by Spencer Sherman in fall 2023 to help build pathways to economic mobility. Ascendways is focused on equity and social impact, and supports organizations in PK-12 education, higher education, and industry. Spencer leverages his 15+ years of experience as a government and education leader to help a variety of clients working to make the American Dream a reality.
Recent Projects
Ascendways’ projects span the country. Recent work includes:
Helping Indiana implement a landmark law to redesign high school, in partnership with Education Strategy Group. The project facilitates new cross-government collaboration between the Indiana Department of Education, Commission for Higher Education, and Treasurer to launch a number of new interconnected policies and grant programs.
Conducting a 50-state scan about how states manage dual enrollment programs through governance structures that connect high schools and colleges. This report will be published in 2024 by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment (NACEP), in cooperation with the College in High School Alliance.
Launching a cross-state collaborative for clean energy pathways in New England with Advance CTE, the national organization for state directors of career and technical education.
Spencer Sherman is an experienced education leader passionate about advancing equity and economic mobility. Through his service in senior leadership positions in government, non-profits, and schools, Spencer has used innovative policymaking, effective management, and cross-sector partnerships to build more equitable education and workforce systems.
As Chief for Innovation at the Rhode Island Department of Education, Spencer oversaw the agency’s work related to college and career readiness, adult education, accountability, data, research, technology, and key strategic projects. He led PrepareRI, a cross-agency initiative that transformed Rhode Island into a national leader in college and career pathways. Spencer also served as Vice President of Policy & Partnerships at a California-based education non-profit, where he built employer partnerships and drafted policies to support the state’s $500M Golden State Pathways Program. Spencer began his career as a Teach For America teacher and later an administrator in New Orleans public schools.
Spencer earned his bachelor’s in political science at Yale University, and his master's in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School.