Katie Dukes is a policy analyst at EdNC focusing on early childhood care and education. She grew up in northeastern North Carolina, graduating from Pasquotank Elementary School, Elizabeth City Middle School, and Pasquotank County High School. Attending the North Carolina Governor’s School West for social science between her junior and senior years of high school changed her life, inspiring her to become a teacher. After graduating from North Carolina State University with a B.A. in history, Katie remained in Wake County, teaching social studies at Cary High School for more than a decade. She was also a social science instructor at Governor’s School East for six years and served on the Board of the Governor’s School Foundation. Katie left teaching to pursue a career in public policy, earning her MPP from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. She lives in Raleigh with her high school sweetheart, Tyler, and their goofy mutt, Murphy.