Sandy focuses on public law and policy at the state and national levels, with a strong focus on education matters, including policies, reform and accountability.

In January 2010, Sandy was appointed fellow and director of policy development and outreach at the George W. Bush Institute. He was named a senior fellow of the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership in 2009. Sandy served as senior advisor to President George W. Bush on education with respect to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. He also previously served as president of the board of trustees of the Dallas Public Schools.

In 1991, Sandy was appointed by Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock to the Educational Economic Policy Center. He was later asked to chair the center’s Accountability Committee. This committee produced the public school accountability system that was later adopted into Texas state law and recognized as one of the most advanced accountability systems in the nation.

Lt. Gov. Bullock also appointed Sandy to serve in 1994 on the interim committee to study the Texas Education Agency. In December 2007, Sandy was appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry to serve on the Select Committee on Public School Accountability, which is tasked with thoroughly reviewing the public school accountability system.

In April 2007, Gov. Perry appointed Sandy to chair the Commission for a College-Ready Texas. This commission issued recommendations to promote greater college/work readiness among Texas high school graduates.

Sandy was also appointed by Gov. Perry, in December 2007, to serve on the Governor’s Competitiveness Council, which was launched to identify obstacles to global competitiveness and to seek recommendations on ways Texas can enhance its economic footing for long-term, sustained success.

Prior to joining Akin, Sandy was a partner in a Dallas law firm. He also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department from 1977 to 1980.