Vanessa Ford

Background

About Vanessa Ford

I am a career educator passionate about advancing educational equity. I believe all learners—regardless of where they live, who they are, or how they identify—deserve access to safe, engaging learning environments that provide equitable opportunities to succeed. I recognize that many barriers to success are rooted in inequitable systems, and I am dedicated to breaking those barriers down—both in my personal and professional life. Beyond the classroom, I have built the latter part of my career fostering strategic partnerships that expand educational access, enhance mental health resources, and drive institutional change. I work alongside higher education leaders, state systems, and advocacy organizations to create meaningful collaborations that improve student outcomes. My authored work includes the Lambda Literary Award-winning children’s book Calvin (Penguin, 2021), written with my husband, and The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender and Non-Binary Students Thrive (Jossey-Bass, 2024), co-authored with Rebecca Kling. My advocacy and insights have been featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, HuffPost, NPR, EdWeek and more. For inquiries about my advocacy work, partnerships, or speaking engagements, please connect via LinkedIn or visit or