Brad Thompson

Brad Thompson is a doctoral student in the Education Policy and Evaluation PhD program at Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and graduate research assistant for the Next Education Workforce. 

Brad’s background is in special education, where he served in various roles, including resource specialist, a self-contained teacher, and as co-teacher in general education classes in both middle and high school levels. His research interests center on factors affecting the special education teacher workforce, particularly how working conditions influence attrition and retention and the subsequent implications for the academic achievement of students with disabilities. Additionally, Brad's research explores how district and school policies that foster greater collaboration among educators, such as team teaching, impact the likelihood of retaining teachers.

Brad also serves as the Children and Youth Action Network Coordinator for Arizona's Council for Exceptional Children, where he advocates for policies that support individuals with disabilities and the professionals who assist them. He is also part of the OASIS Learning Futures Collaborative in ASU's MLFTC, which focuses on maximizing access for historically marginalized populations. In addition to his other accomplishments, Brad is both a first-generation college graduate and a military veteran.