Jean Liu (2020, 2021) and Abbie Ridenour (2021-2022) first connected through the Education Pioneers (EP) Fellowship during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though they worked in different contexts – Abbie in Marin County and Jean in Oakland – they built a bond that has lasted well beyond their Fellowship years, offering each other support that exemplifies the power of EP connections.
That friendship began in the middle of demanding Fellowship placements, where each was navigating complex, fast-moving challenges in her community.
Driving Change Amidst Crisis
For Jean, the EP Summer Fellowship marked a bold career transition. After nearly two decades in financial services, the Fellowship opened the door to a field where she had little direct experience but a strong desire to contribute based on her own experience as a parent and a professional.
“Throughout my career, I’ve hired many people, and I see how school doesn’t prepare them for the soft skills they need in the real world,” she shared. “I wanted to be part of that change for my own kids and future generations.”
As a Fellow, Jean joined the frontlines of Oakland Unified School District’s pandemic response. She was part of a team that, as she described it, stood up a “mini public health department,” managing testing, communications, vaccinations, and contact tracing, and making decisions about when to close classrooms or schools.
Jean also spearheaded the rollout of a communications platform called ParentSquare to reach Oakland families representing more than 100 languages. It became critical at the height of COVID-19 and continues to be used by the district to support family communication.
For Abbie, the EP Fellowship came during a personal and professional transition. With experience as a teacher, principal, and founder, she had focused her career at the school level. On maternity leave during the pandemic, she saw the Fellowship as a chance to contribute in a new way.
Abbie’s placement at Marin Promise Partnership focused on digital access across 17 small school districts in Marin County. She coordinated school district partners with the county library system to distribute hotspots and other resources for remote learning.
“We secured significant federal funding that allowed the library system to purchase and distribute Starlink in West Marin, so families could connect to remote learning in more geographically isolated communities that previously had no wifi or cell service to access hotspots. That was a really meaningful part of the work – ensuring equitable access to learning,” she reflected.
Building Lasting Bonds
Alongside their Fellowship projects, Abbie and Jean were part of a close-knit, remote community of practice of five Fellows who met regularly and continued connecting afterward.
“Building strong relationships over Zoom gave us the opportunity to learn from what each person was experiencing leading work in different parts of the country,” Abbie shared.
Over the years, the group has been a source of support for career decisions and a touchpoint for personal milestones. “We’ve seen each other get married, have babies, and have more babies,” Jean laughed. “Professionally, we always make time for each other when someone is at an inflection point in their career and needs a sounding board.”
For future EP Fellows, both Abbie and Jean emphasize that the support system developed during the Fellowship can be just as valuable as the projects themselves.
“One of the best parts about the Fellowship is the incredible people you share it with. So lean into getting to know your cohort members on a more personal level,” Jean advised. “Go to that happy hour and reach out, because this is a really special moment in time.”
Abbie added, “Bring the challenges of your Fellowship placement into the EP cohort spaces. Really engage in professional learning through the community. We all benefited from sharing what was going on and giving each other advice.”
Carrying the Work Forward
Today, Abbie leads the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program at San Francisco Unified School District, and Jean works as Director of Strategy at Getting Smart.
Abbie’s experience as an EP Fellow reinforced her move from school-level leadership to districtwide systems. “This opportunity during a global crisis moment helped me understand what it looks like to provide system-level support,” she shared. “My current work at SFUSD is woven from that, assessing what the system needs, what resources are available, and how to connect them to drive change.”
Jean added, “The work I did in my Fellowship was very operational and helped me realize how to apply my skills to another industry. Since then, I’ve been intentional about seeking roles where I could learn about innovations in education and figure out where I can add value.”
For both Abbie and Jean, the EP Fellowship was more than a placement. It was a turning point: a chance to step into new kinds of work, to make meaningful contributions at a critical time, and to build a network that continues to support them years later.
About our Alumni Network
After completing their Fellowship, EP leaders join our vibrant Alumni network made up of more than 4,700 connected change makers at every level of educational leadership. Learn more about the impact of our Alumni network here.