For ten months, Education Pioneers (EP) Impact Fellows work with education organizations on strategic projects while cultivating the skills and perspectives needed to support long-term careers in the sector. The Fellowship concludes with a virtual convening where Fellows reflect on their contributions and prepare to join EP’s nationwide network of more than 4,900 Alumni.
During the recent convening, four EP Alumni returned to help Fellows consider how their experience might continue to influence their leadership in the years ahead: Lauren King (2018), Governance and Democracy Lead at the Mayors Innovation Project; William J. Collins (2014), Interim CEO of the Surge Institute; Mahati Tonk (2014), founder of Anvaya Advisory; and Cecilia Paz Aguilar (2012), Impact and Partnerships Manager at Chiefs for Change.
Their careers span classrooms, school systems, nonprofits, community leadership, and consulting. Across those varied paths, several common lessons emerged about building a lasting career and creating meaningful impact in public education.
Learning to see the larger system
The EP Alumni described the Fellowship as an experience that expanded their understanding of the forces shaping schools and communities. Through their projects and cohort-based learning, they began to examine how factors like policies, institutions, funding, relationships, and power influence what becomes possible for students.
“The problems we see are often only the visible symptoms of much deeper systems,” William emphasized. “Once you learn how to see a system, you can no longer pretend that an isolated solution will be enough.”
That wider perspective continues to influence how the panelists approach their work. It helps them identify whose voices are missing, recognize connections between education and other public systems, and design strategies with communities rather than for them.
It also helped them recognize skills that would remain relevant as their careers evolved.
During her Fellowship with Teach For America, Cecilia studied the practices of teachers doing excellent work in classrooms across the country and helped communicate those lessons to a broader audience. Looking back, she recognized that the project was teaching her how to make important work close to students visible to people positioned to support and invest in it, a skill she now uses to connect funders with public education leaders.
“Same skill,” she said. “I just didn’t know it had a name yet.”
Learning how you want to lead
As Fellows move into their next chapters, the panelists encouraged them to think intentionally about how they want to lead, especially when the work is complex or the path forward is unclear.
Their reflections pointed to the value of slowing down before making consequential decisions, asking whose perspective may be missing, and considering how a choice will affect people across an organization or community. As William shared, “Leadership is not just about having an answer. It’s about creating the conditions for the right answer to emerge.”
The panelists also encouraged newer Alumni to recognize the value of the experiences and perspectives they already bring. Cecilia described leadership as “a transferable skill you carry, not a chair you sit in,” while William reflected on his responsibility to create environments where people can contribute without minimizing parts of themselves: “I lead so that no one has to shrink their culture to earn respect.”
For newer Alumni, these lessons offer a way to approach the next stage of their careers with greater intention. Leadership can show up in how they ask questions, include others in decisions, reflect on the impact of their actions, and use their own experiences to strengthen the work.
Joining a network that grows with you
Finally, the Alumni reflected on the relationships that have supported them through career changes, new roles, moves to unfamiliar cities, and challenging moments in the work.
Across their experiences, one thing stood out: More than a decade after their Fellowships, panelists continue to turn to EP peers for collaboration, introductions, and encouragement.
When Lauren moved to Tulsa without an established community, an EP connection introduced her to a circle that became both a personal and professional foundation. She later collaborated with those folks on a grant-funded project for the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The larger network has opened up introductions to people, to ideas, and to opportunities that I just could not have expected,” Lauren explained.
Other panelists described finding different forms of connection as their careers evolved. As Mahati launched her independent consulting practice, she discovered a group of EP Alumni who support one another in building their businesses. Cecilia noted that, 14 years after her Fellowship, members of her cohort remain close friends and trusted thought partners.
Community for the Career Ahead
As the 2026 Impact Fellows complete their ten-month experience, they enter a network of more than 4,900 leaders, 71% of whom remain in public education, with 1 in 3 holding increasingly senior positions. These Alumni continue to support one another, strengthen the sector, and invest in the leaders following them.
While the Fellows may not yet know where they will be working ten years from now, they are leaving the Fellowship with a broader understanding of the issues facing public education, the orientation needed to lead in a complex field, and relationships that can grow alongside their careers.
Could your organization benefit from the perspective and dedicated capacity of an EP Impact Fellow? Email [email protected] to explore hosting a Fellow and help create the conditions for another emerging leader to build a lasting career in the sector.
Meet the EP Alumni
William J. Collins (2014)
Interim CEO, Surge Institute
Chicago, IL
William J. Collins is the Interim CEO of the Surge Institute, where he has helped scale the organization from two cities and fewer than 100 alumni to eight cities and over 600 change agents transforming education. Twice recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a top African American leader, he is a former corporate executive turned classroom teacher turned social impact leader. William holds degrees from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and DePaul University, plus an executive certificate from Georgetown. An Obama Foundation Leader and Pahara Fellow, he serves on the boards of Mikva Challenge, New Life Covenant Church Southeast, and Greenwood Oasis.
Lauren King (2018)
Governance and Democracy Lead, Mayors Innovation Project
Madison, WI
Lauren currently serves as the Governance and Democracy Program Lead at The Mayors Innovation Project. She has over 18 years of experience in the education and social sector supporting teams to use program evaluation, continuous improvement and collaborative action as tools to ensure communities are better equipped to help all people thrive. She holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a Ph.D in organizational and community leadership from The University of Oklahoma.
Cecilia Paz Aguilar (2012)
Impact and Partnerships Manager, Chiefs for Change
Bay Area, CA
Cecilia Paz Aguilar serves as Impact and Partnerships Manager at Chiefs for Change, where she advances fundraising and partnerships connecting funders with public school leaders driving change across the country. Born and raised in Stockton, California, she has spent nearly two decades in education as a teacher, school leader, coach, and strategist, including serving as a founding principal at IDEA Public Schools and in leadership roles with TNTP and other national education organizations. She is also the founder of Rozas Rising LLC, supporting education and social impact organizations with strategy and partnerships.
An Education Pioneers and Ryan Fellowship alumna, Cecilia serves as Vice Chair of the Board at Unbound Stockton Community School. She holds an MBA and MA in Educational Leadership from Mills College and a BA in Psychology from the University of the Pacific.
Mahati Tonk (2014)
Founder, Anvaya Advisory
Princeton, NJ
Mahati Tonk is the founder of Anvaya Advisory and an education strategist known for turning complex vision into actionable strategy. Education Pioneers brought her into public education. She was placed at Uncommon Schools through the 2014 Summer Fellowship in New York City, transitioning from a career at BlackRock, and has worked in the sector ever since. She most recently served as Head of Strategic Planning at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the nation’s third-largest school district, where she led the development of the district’s new 2026-2031 strategic plan, shaped by more than 200,000 community touchpoints. Her background also includes work at the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, and she completed the Broad Residency in Urban Education.