On May 12, over 100 Education Pioneers (EP) Alumni, Fellows, supporters, and champions gathered in San Francisco for EP’s Impact Exchange, an evening dedicated to celebrating the enduring impact of our shared efforts in the Bay Area and 2025 relaunch in the region.
The room was abuzz with joy, as Fellows, Alums, and friends of EP reunited with old friends and made new connections. The spirit of the evening was captured by Alum Kaila Waits-Smith (2010), who reflected afterward: “It felt truly special to be surrounded by people who deeply want to make an impact and leave this place better than we found it. Regardless of whether we’re doing it for K-12 or in another arena, those core values are what attracted us to EP years ago still ring true to all of us Alumni.”
EP Alumnus and national Board member Ash Solar (2007) hosted the program as our emcee, opening with reflections on his own experience as a Bay Area EP Fellow. Ash then introduced EP’s founder Scott Morgan, who launched Education Pioneers more than 20 years ago in the Bay. Scott reflected on EP’s early days, and how the belief that public education needed more leadership, more strategy, and more problem solvers still holds true today.
That sense of urgency was echoed by EP’s CEO, Melissa Wu, who shared, “None of our current challenges change the fundamental truth that public education is an essential foundation for opportunity and fairness — and also, that change is possible.”
Over the last 21 years, EP has placed more than 740 Fellows in Bay Area education organizations. Today, more than 500 local Alumni are shaping systems, leading schools, and designing solutions that reach thousands of students and families.
EP Alumni Dennis Li (2013) and Stacey Wang (2010) also shared their stories, reflecting on their own pathways and highlighting how deeply EP is embedded in the fabric of the education sector in the Bay.
“Leadership is hard right now, and there’s no playbook amidst this chaos — where every corner you turn, there are existential threats to the survival of schools like mine,” Stacey shared. “I’m grateful for the optimism I see from fellow EP Alumni leaders that I’ve grown up with over the past decade. To all of you leading the hard work — or holding steady the work that lets others lead — thank you.”
Dennis built on that theme, emphasizing the power of people to drive progress during uncertainty: “Talent is one of the most powerful solutions we have. Finding the right people and putting them in the right places is how we move through these challenges.”
This event was just the beginning. As we rebuild our presence in the Bay Area, you can be a part of EP’s next chapter:
Give: Invest in the next generation of leaders by making a donation today. And for Alums, your gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $50K, thanks to two generous Alumni!
Connect: As Ash reminded us: “If someone once created an on-ramp for you, you can now pay it forward.” Do you know an organization that would benefit from EP talent — or could your organization host an EP Fellow? Email us at [email protected] to get the conversation started.
Photos: Chloe Jackman Photography
