LEARN ABOUT Our Nationwide Impact.

Courageous leadership

transforms education.

Education Pioneers strengthens the education sector’s management capacity by cultivating diverse talent pipelines for critical roles beyond the classroom. We support the growth and development of emerging leaders, building the mindsets and skills needed to tackle the evolving challenges in our quest for an excellent and equitable public education system.

OUR REACH

The collective power of skilled professionals from inside and outside of the sector can transform education as we know it.

With a network of over 4,600 talented change agents, we’re actively partnering with education organizations nationwide to collectively tackle complex challenges, drive critical systems-level change, and disrupt inequitable systems.

Our Fellowships connect emerging leaders with impactful projects, strengthening organizational capacity in education and guiding Fellows toward meaningful long-term careers. We offer vital leadership development and create a network of sector leaders, cultivating a pipeline of changemakers beyond the classroom.

“Joining EP changed my life trajectory. My Fellowship gave me important exposure to the education sector, and enabled me to meet the organization that I lead now.”

“Good Reason Houston is proud to partner with Education Pioneers. EP brought us an incredible and diverse pipeline of talent recruited from across the country. Our Fellows hit the ground running and immediately impressed us with the strategic and analytic acumen they brought to their projects.”

“Education Pioneers helped me shift from the classroom to a broader systemic leadership role. [My Fellowship experience] gave me access to the inside, to see how education-focused philanthropy worked. And it gave me access to an incredible network of people.”

“Our Fellows helped us ensure that we executed against key strategic plans and maximized the impact of our district's ESSER funding. They were critical to accelerating student learning and improved district operations long-term.”

“I grew immensely through the EP Fellowship. Engaging with a community of peers doing similar work made me more effective...I learned how to tackle the high-stakes, adaptive challenges that confront leaders in education every day.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with several EP Fellows and Alumni who provide essential support and skills, most specifically around data analytics, to help ensure that the work we're doing on behalf of children is not only meaningful but impactful.”

Our Leaders

Our Alumni lead the way in driving educational change, creating a rising tide that uplifts students, communities, and colleagues nationwide. They are committed to continuous learning, adapting to changing conditions and engaging closely with local opportunities, challenges, and stakeholders. Together, they transform education as bridge builders, serving as a powerful catalyst for equity.

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More than 50% of EP Alumni identify as leaders of color or multiethnic.

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More than 70% of EP Alumni in the workforce are working in education in increasingly high-leverage roles.

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Together, our network serves more than 12.6 million students a year.

Our Work

Our community contributes to critical work across the education sector, leading at all levels and making a tangible, long-term impact across departments and functions in school districts, charter school networks, nonprofit organizations, state agencies, and more.

LEADING IN TALENT

Our Alumni are shaping the hiring, training, and retention of high-quality talent in education.

Crystal Hill
Chief People Officer, AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation

Claire Brown
Senior Vice President, Talent Management, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools

James Hilton Harrell
Executive Officer, Talent Development; Houston Independent School District

Dr. Christopher Davis
Senior Director of Data and Information Management, Uplift Education

Julienne Ng
Head of Data, Change Machine

Ijeoma Anyanwu
Deputy Chief, Data & Strategy, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)

Leading in Data & Analytics

Our Alumni are helping organizations make data-driven decisions in the best interest of students and communities.

Leading in Data & Analytics

Our Alumni are helping organizations make data-driven decisions in the best interest of students and communities.

Dr. Christopher Davis
Senior Director of Data and Information Management, Uplift Education

Julienne Ng
Head of Data, Change Machine

Ijeoma Anyanwu
Deputy Chief, Data & Strategy, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)

Leading in Strategy & Operations

Our Alumni are using their strategic expertise to develop and implement effective systems and oversee growth initiatives across the education ecosystem.

Etna Tiburcio
Chief of Staff, Education Pioneers

Sarah Martin
Senior Advisor for Recovery, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)

Desmond Patton
Chief Strategy Officer, School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania

Ross Knorr
Director of Operations & Finance, Communities in Schools of Memphis

Natasha Telesford Williams
Chief Financial Officer, The City Fund

Nicholas Depree
Former Director of Finance, ParentSquare

Leading in Finance

Our Alumni are using their skills to guide resource allocation and ensure sustainability for organizations across the country.

Leading in Finance

Our Alumni are using their skills to guide resource allocation and ensure sustainability for organizations across the country.

Ross Knorr
Director of Operations & Finance, Communities in Schools of Memphis

Natasha Telesford Williams
Chief Financial Officer, The City Fund

Nicholas Depree
Former Director of Finance, ParentSquare

Our Program

Our short and long-term Fellowships connect emerging leaders with high-impact PreK-12 organizations, guiding them towards systems-level general management roles and robust careers in education. Through comprehensive leadership development and a vast network of colleagues, our Fellows and Alumni shape policies, strategies, and innovative solutions, leaving a lasting legacy for a brighter future in education.

Our Partners

Through the years, we’ve partnered with over 1,000 influential education organizations across the country. From the largest school districts to charter school organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies, our talent is driving transformative change across the education landscape. Together, we are impacting millions of students nationwide.

2023 Annual Report

As we celebrate 20 years, learn more about the progress and the promise of our Fellows and Alumni.

Impact & Insights

EP Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Christopher Davis

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Education Pioneers (EP), a significant milestone in our organization’s journey. To honor this occasion, we’re sharing an ongoing blog series to showcase EP Alumni who are actively addressing opportunity gaps within their communities.