Education Pioneers Expands Fellowship to Attract More Diverse Professionals into Education Leadership Roles
Oakland, Calif. — Education Pioneers, a national nonprofit that places diverse, exceptional professionals in critical leadership positions throughout the education sector, announced plans today to improve and expand its Fellowship program to develop 10,000 emerging and established leaders in education by its 20th anniversary in 2023.
The organization’s changes and growth will help meet key leadership needs for Education Pioneers’ partner school districts, charter schools and other education organizations around the country. The update also will attract thousands of our nation’s most extraordinary people into education leadership roles where they can work to ensure all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The expanded Education Pioneers Fellowship, which combines several smaller programs, will include a 10-week summer track and a long-term career track with flexible start dates.
“There is an acute need in education for exceptional, diverse leaders and managers who have the skills to lead change within the complex and high-stakes environment of today’s schools, central offices, education nonprofits, and more,” said Education Pioneers Founder and CEO Scott Morgan.
“Our expanded Fellowship will help us recruit and develop thousands of additional skilled professionals ready to solve problems from outside of the classroom so all students and teachers succeed inside the classroom,” Morgan said.
The Fellowship’s flagship summer track is designed for professionals interested in exploring a career in education leadership over 10 weeks, often in conjunction with graduate school. Applications for the summer track will be accepted starting today at educationpioneers.org.
Education Pioneers’ career track is designed to launch emerging and established professionals into full-time education careers or help current education professionals enter into new leadership positions. The career track will include Education Pioneers’ fellowship for data analysts. Fellows on the career track will be matched throughout the year with education organizations that need talent. Applications for the career track will be accepted at educationpioneers.org starting November 3.
Both tracks offer a cohort-based professional development program for Fellows to grow as education leaders.
Education Pioneers’ partner organizations indicate they need long-term leaders with specific, targeted skills such as data analysis, operations and human resources, including leaders from diverse backgrounds who have ties to the communities they serve.
“School systems around the country need to hire diverse leaders who have the skills and experience to help transform public education,” said Kaya Henderson, Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools. “Education Pioneers is committed to finding and developing talented professionals who share our vision that all students will receive a world-class education that prepares them for college, career, and life.”
Often, talented professionals have difficulty finding a way into the education field, especially if their skills were honed outside of the classroom.
“Education Pioneers helped open the door to positions and opportunities that I wouldn't have had access to or been considered a match for otherwise, even though my skills were well-aligned,” said Katelyn Lowrey, a 2014 Fellow who worked at Educate Texas, where she supported the nonprofit’s collective impact work and internal operations.
Education Pioneers is also increasing its emphasis on recruiting racially, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse candidates for our partners in education. Currently, nearly 50 percent of the organization’s Pioneers are people of color.
More information about Education Pioneers can be found at www.educationpioneers.org.