Washington, DC – Today, ILO Group, a women-founded national education strategy and policy firm, announced Dr. Lily Laux has joined the organization as Principal. A seasoned state executive and respected leader, Dr. Laux brings more than 15 years of experience leading large-scale education systems, managing complex policy initiatives, and driving measurable results for students.
Dr. Laux spent nearly a decade at the Texas Education Agency across multiple roles. She served as Deputy Commissioner of School Programs where she led divisions that supported more than 5.5 million students across 1,200 school districts. At TEA, Laux led a team of over 270 staff and oversaw major statewide initiatives to improve literacy, expand high-quality prekindergarten programs, and advance career and technical education pathways aligned to workforce needs. She led the design and implementation of the Texas Reading Academies that trained more than 150,000 educators in evidence-based reading instruction. Dr. Laux also played a central role in the rollout of the state’s historic $11.6 billion school finance reform effort and reformed the state’s assessment program to improve instructional alignment.
Most recently Dr. Laux served as Executive Director at Economic Mobility Systems, where she partnered with K–12 districts, higher education institutions, and workforce organizations to strengthen college and career pathways for underserved students.
“Lily is one of the most respected systems leaders in the country because she has a demonstrated record of impact at the highest levels,” said Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, CEO and Co-Founder of ILO Group. “She brings proven experience managing at scale, solving complex challenges, and leading with both clarity and resolve. Her depth of expertise across policy and implementation, and her ability to take on the biggest challenges in public education, will accelerate and elevate the work we do every day at ILO Group, supporting leaders who are pursuing their boldest ambitions and biggest bets to transform systems and student outcomes.”
At ILO Group, Laux will partner with state and district superintendents, commissioners, and senior leadership teams to design and execute large-scale strategies focused on student outcomes, workforce readiness, and the critical challenges that systems, schools, and students face.
“I’ve seen how great leadership can transform entire systems and change the trajectory for students and communities,” said Dr. Lily Laux. “ILO Group’s work to equip education leaders to act boldly and deliver results is both urgent and inspiring. From expanding high-quality prekindergarten to redesigning career and technical education, my career has been about turning vision into execution, because that’s where lasting change happens. I’m proud to join a team shaping the future of public education with courage, clarity, and impact.”
Dr. Laux joins ILO’s nationally recognized team that already includes multiple former state and district chiefs and commissioners as well as field-leading experts who serve as Superintendents-in-Residence and Senior Fellows respectively. ILO Group’s principals and expert staff have advised systems serving one in three students in America, helping state and local education agencies navigate critical challenges from pandemic recovery to AI implementation.
Laux holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A.T. in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Memphis, and a B.A. from Columbia University.
Reporters interested in speaking with Dr. Lily Laux or Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer can contact the ILO team at press@ilogroup.com.
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About ILO Group
ILO Group was built on a simple, shared mission: to roll up our sleeves and do whatever it takes to support K-12 system leaders’ big bets – from continuing to respond to student needs exacerbated by the pandemic to supporting all students thriving as we look ahead.
A proudly women-owned education strategy and policy firm, ILO Group, stands for In the Life Of. We work side-by-side with the country’s leading educators, experts, and government partners to help solve the toughest challenges facing school systems and leaders today–because we’ve been in their shoes. With decades of collective experience, our seasoned team of consultants has supported many of the nation’s largest and highest-profile school systems and education-focused organizations.
Our clients span school districts, state education agencies and other government agencies, nonprofits, philanthropy, start ups, civic-minded businesses, and beyond. They all share one thing in common: an unwavering commitment to supporting our nation’s students and young people. Through our work, we have supported leaders serving 1 in 2 students in America.
About Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer is the Co-Founder and CEO of ILO Group, and the founder and CEO of Women Leading Ed, the largest national nonprofit network of women in education leadership. Dr. Rafal-Baer is a board member on the National Assessment Governing Board and a former New York State Department of Education Assistant Commissioner. A former special education teacher, Dr. Rafal-Baer holds a Master of Philosophy in Education Research and a Ph.D. focused on comparative education policy from the University of Cambridge, where she was a Marshall Scholar.