The Heritage Foundation has hired Corey DeAngelis as a research fellow in its Center for Education Policy, putting him back at the center of the national debate over school choice. DeAngelis will work on policies promoting vouchers, charter schools and education savings accounts, while continuing to critique teachers’ unions and push market‑based approaches to schooling.
What happened
– Heritage confirmed the appointment and lists DeAngelis on the Center for Education Policy roster.
– The hire immediately drew attention because earlier reporting revealed that DeAngelis performed in gay adult films under the college‑era pseudonym “Seth Rose.” He has acknowledged the work, and that disclosure earlier prompted his departure from another conservative organization.
– No police or legal actions have been reported in connection with the matter.
Reactions on both sides
– Supporters say the appointment strengthens Heritage’s education team. They point to DeAngelis’s track record on school‑choice research and predict he will produce policy briefs and state‑level strategies to advance alternatives to traditional public schools.
– Critics argue the move is divisive. Some view the revelation about his past as hypocritical given his public stances on LGBTQ+ issues in schools; others say the episode raises questions about judgment and accountability for public policy figures. Many defenders counter that the work was private student‑era activity and unrelated to his professional qualifications.
– Heritage has stood by the hire, emphasizing his research role and the foundation’s intent to influence upcoming legislative debates on education.
Policy context and stakes
– DeAngelis’s position ties into a broader push among some conservative groups to decentralize education policy and expand parental choice—efforts linked by observers to initiatives like Project 2026. Those advocating choice argue it will boost competition and outcomes; opponents warn that privatization risks leaving marginalized students behind and narrowing federal protections.
– The appointment highlights how personnel decisions at major think tanks can shape agendas, messaging and legislative priorities at both state and federal levels. Expect renewed attention from lawmakers, advocacy groups and the media as related policy debates unfold.
Why this matters
– Beyond one individual, the episode crystallizes cultural and ideological clashes over who gets to shape education policy and what values should guide schools. It also underscores how past personal conduct can become part of public vetting for influential policy roles—even when no laws were broken.
What to watch next
– New research and advocacy products from Heritage’s Center for Education Policy, state‑level school‑choice campaigns, and any congressional or administrative hearings that probe the direction of federal education policy or appointments tied to initiatives like Project 2026.