David Lombardo is reporting for Capitol Confidential Billy Easton, the longtime leader of the Alliance for Quality Education, a left-leaning, labor-linked education advocacy group, is stepping down. Easton served as executive director of the group since 2005, building it into a powerful statewide advocate on behalf of education equity. The organization's focus in Albany is mainly around the effort to secure state aid, but it also addresses racial and social justice issues. Easton will be replaced in January by the group's legislative director, Jasmine Gripper. Gripper is a former charter school teacher and previously worked with Organizing for America. She joined the Alliance in 2013 as a temporary statewide organizer. “The future has so much in store for AQE with Jasmine Gripper at the helm, and with all the parents, educators and students that make this work possible,” Alliance co-vice board chair Natasha Capers said in a statement. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential.