Larkin Tackett

Director of Place-Based Initiatives

Larkin Tackett is director of Place-Based Initiatives in the US Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement. His responsibilities include managing the Promise Neighborhoods program; developing the Department's place-based strategy to leverage public and private resources to support comprehensive education reform in high-poverty neighborhoods; and leading the Department's work on the White House Strong Cities Strong Communities (SC2) and Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives. Prior to joining The Broad Residency, Larkin managed single and multifamily affordable housing developments throughout Texas for the state’s housing finance agency—the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Before working at the housing department, he served as legislative director for Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini and committee director for California State Senator Dean Florez. During his time in the Texas and California Legislatures, Larkin developed a broad portfolio of public policy, including legislation relating to early childhood education, infrastructure programs for colonias along Texas-Mexico border, state procurement practices, and air quality. Larkin also taught eighth grade social studies and journalism with Teach For America at Eliza Miller Jr. High School in West Helena, Arkansas, a small town in the Mississippi Delta.

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