The Center for Responsive Politics' Massie Ritsch is joining the Department of Education's Office of Communications & Outreach as a deputy assistant secretary. Ritsch spent the last three years following money and lobbying trends as the communications director for CRP.

"I'll be overseeing outreach to education associations, foundations and think-tanks, returning to a policy area I worked on as a reporter at the Los Angeles Times and as a communications strategist for schools, districts and education advocates. I'm looking forward to working with Secretary Arne Duncan and his team at this historic moment to improve educational opportunities for America's students," said Ritsch in an email he sent out Thursday morning.

                                                                                                 -- Winter Casey