Founder & Executive Director

Matt Kazmierczak is a former Republican campaign strategist who left the party when he became disenchanted with the party's direction, especially on the issue of robust, inclusive, and fully-funded public education.

Matt started his political career out of college when he joined John McCain for President 2000 campaign in 1999. After moving back to his hometown of Oakland, NJ, he soon ran for Council and was elected as the youngest official in NJ. He also ran a successful political consulting and marketing business before joining the State government as Chief of Staff for a State Legislator. Matt also served numerous roles in congressional, legislative, county, and statewide elections, including political director and campaign manager. Matt has a Bachelor's in Political Science and a Master's in Public Administration.

Matt has always strongly advocated for public education and its impact on American society. Once his son was diagnosed with autism, he saw his local school district's truly impacted the needs of his child as a student. The District provided therapy and an individualized education plan that completely changed his son's life.

From these experiences, Matt formed Education Truth Project to fight against the misinformation and hate spreading in our public education system in the United States.

Field & Programs Director

Cheryl is a passionate educator, a loving mother, a fierce public education activist, and a school board trustee herself. Cheryl was a founding member of the San Diego State University Student Ability Network, working in tandem with others on identifying and nurturing strengths rather than individual deficits.

After a successful career in the tech industry, Cheryl found her true calling in education. In 2013, she began teaching students with special needs, championing inclusion and the growth of student independence. As attacks on public education escalated across the country, Cheryl recognized the need to get involved in politics. She began volunteering her time to local candidates and issue campaigns, ultimately running for school board in 2020.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic and homeschooling her five-year-old, Cheryl's determination paid off. She won her race with a staggering lead, receiving roughly 2000 more votes than any candidate before her.

Education is not just a job for Cheryl, it's a way of life. Her values center around a strong sense of community and a belief that our nation's success depends on the success of our youth. As a school board trustee, she uses her experience as an educator and mother to create policies that prioritize student success and support teacher development.

Outreach & Communications

Mukund Dewan is a political consultant based in Chicago, Illinois. He is an outspoken advocate for progressive policies in education, immigration, and criminal justice reform with a strong drive to effect meaningful change in these areas. Currently pursuing degrees in political science and computer science at DePaul University, Mukund has amassed experience in campaign management, political strategy, and outreach.

Starting off by advocating for students in Illinois' largest school district, he moved into managing a Democratic school board campaign in 2023 and later started working with the Education Truth Project. While maintaining this role, he also served as field director for a congressional campaign in IL’s 6th District as well as various other consulting and advocacy work including work with the Indo-American Center and Chicago Legal Protection Fund on immigration and volunteering with progressive campaigns.