Lupita Alcalá is the Director of Education Policy and Outcomes and has over 25 years of experience in advocacy, policy, project development, and executive and administrative leadership, championing better educational outcomes for the children, youth and adults of California, and over a decade of experience in government affairs for preK-12 and higher education. Lupita leads work on alignment of state and local system structures, policies, processes and resources in mental health, early education, pre-K-12, college affordability and workforce. Lupita recently co-led the development and co-authored Supporting California’s Children Through a Whole Child Approach: A Field Guide for Creating Integrated, School-Based Systems of Care and co-led the development and co-authored the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care for Governor Newsom and his cabinet. Prior to joining WestEd she served as the first Latina Chief Deputy Superintendent, for the CDE. She has served in numerous leadership roles including as Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission. Lupita holds a BA in Political Science from the UC, San Diego, and a Ed.M. from Harvard University School of Education.