Tess McDaniel is the Legal and Government Relations Coordinator at Participate Learning, where her work spans visa services and compliance, government relations, and education policy. She supports international educators throughout the J-1 visa process, helps ensure compliance with federal regulations governing international teacher exchange, and contributes to policy research and advocacy efforts related to international education and cultural exchange.
Tess earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Global Studies and Peace, War, and Defense and minored in French. An eastern North Carolina native, Tess is especially interested in expanding educational opportunity across the state, particularly in rural communities, and exploring how dual language education can contribute to outcomes beyond language acquisition. She is particularly interested in the connections between dual language programs, student belonging and family engagement, literacy, and school attendance.
Through EPFP, Tess hopes to deepen her understanding of North Carolina’s education policy landscape and explore how policy, partnerships, and innovative educational models can create stronger opportunities for students and communities across the state.