Rigel Massaro

Chief Policy & Programs Officer

Rigel is a California native and a third-generation educator. She comes to EdVoice after over five years advancing literacy initiatives, supporting educator workforce recruitment and retention,  establishing community schools throughout the state and supporting learning acceleration at the California State Board of Education. Prior to serving the Newsom Administration, Rigel was senior legislative counsel at Public Advocates, where she partnered with parent and student groups to support equitable school funding and teacher quality for low-income communities. She also represented immigrant parents of students with disabilities at Advocates for Children of New York and clerked at the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Between college at Wesleyan University and law school at the University of Arizona, Rigel taught middle school outside of Phoenix. Those sixth, seventh and eighth graders drove Rigel to pursue a law degree and a career advocating for low-income students of color to access an education that matches their limitless potential. Rigel currently serves as an Advisory Board member for the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting and as the president of her daughters’ public school PTA, where she is proud to build community between diverse families in South Sacramento.