ERS Team

Isabela Fonseca

Isabela is a manager at Education Resource Strategies (ERS), where she partners with school districts to design systems that promote equity, rigor, and student success. She has supported Columbus City Schools in Ohio to develop a more equitable funding system and worked with Salem Public Schools in Massachusetts to create a more competitive compensation structure for teachers. She has also supported Texas districts through the Texas Education Agency in implementing strategic shifts to integrate blended learning into schools. Currently, Isabela is working with Detroit Public Schools Community District on a high school redesign initiative focused on increasing student engagement, academic rigor, and postsecondary readiness. She is also supporting Lawrence Public Schools in Massachusetts in crafting a district-wide strategic plan to guide future priorities and investments.

Before joining ERS, Isabela earned her Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago with a focus on international development. While in graduate school, she interned at IMAGO Global Grassroots and conducted field research in Recife, Brazil, studying the impact of COVID recovery policies on public education. Her passion for education and systems change was deepened through this experience.

Isabela began her career in business analytics, holding roles at Market Performance Group, Simple Mills, Revlon, and L’Oréal. Through this work, she discovered a love for data and visual storytelling—skills she now brings to her work in education. She holds a B.A. from New York University, where she double majored in Economics and Politics and minored in Mathematics.

Outside of work Isabela enjoys hiking and traveling with her partner, Josh, and their dog, Nox. She is originally from Brazil and frequently travels there to visit family and friends. She also enjoys cooking and baking, and nurtures her creativity through watercolor and film photography.

Previous Experience

Consultant
Market Performance Group

Senior Associate of Insights and Analytics
Simple Mills

Senior Analyst
Revlon

Analyst
L’Oreal

Education

B.A. Economics and Politics
New York University

Masters of Public Policy
University of Chicago