Joseph Hood was a research associate at New America in the Education Policy program. Prior to moving to the Washington DC area, he taught for three years at Leadership Preparatory Charter School in Memphis, Tennessee. A Teach for America alum, his first two years were spent teaching math, science, and social studies to his third grade scholars, who constantly impressed him with their joy and determination. In the 2019–20 school year, he directed the school's ESL department, served as a math curriculum coach, and taught ESL to students K–5.
A product of Texas public schools, Hood earned his master’s in public administration with a focus in education policy analysis from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, where he also received his BA in political science. He studied tuition in higher education, immigrant education, and best practices in Texas school districts.