Laronda strives to craft thoughtful questions and find meaningful patterns in their answers, thereby making data collection and analysis an accessible and actionable tool for continuous learning and improvement. She first entered the world of education as an English as an Additional Language teacher serving immigrant and refugee families in Minnesota and Iowa. Most recently, she worked in education research, helping refine professional learning tools which enable teachers to better support their multilingual learners. She also has over a decade of volunteer experience in her neighborhood elementary school, where she has enjoyed leading enrichment programs and clubs. Laronda received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from Duke University.