Talent in Action

Music is a powerful tool to engage young people both in and outside of school. In Memphis, Tennessee, where music is both a legacy and a critical element of the city’s future, it has the potential to strengthen young people’s connections to their communities and positively impact their lives. Serving as a nonprofit strategy consultant for Memphis Music Initiative this summer yielded four leadership lessons that are critical for all education leaders.

In this Pioneer Profile, EP hears from Alumnus Jon Hanover (Analyst Fellow, 2010), who founded Roots Elementary School in Denver, Colorado, a brand new school that is set to open this August. Read on to hear more about why Jon wishes we paid teachers like we pay hedge fund managers and professional athletes, why his favorite school memory includes jumping on furniture and Latin verbs, and what it was like when one of his students learned to read for the very first time.

It’s 93 degrees in Glendale, California, and Kara Allen Soldati’s passion for innovation is as palpable as the May heat. Kara, a 2010 Education Pioneers Graduate School Fellowship Alumna, and I meet to talk about her work leading the nonprofit CoachArt, the bold vision she has for her organization, and her recent selection to the 2015 Pahara Institute NextGen Network.

Empower Schools and EP Alumna Sarah Toce are working to make the debate over school district vs. charter school a thing of the past. “Our theory of action represents a third way,” said Sarah, Director of Policy for Empower.

EP’s annual survey of the 2,500+ leaders in our Alumni network revealed powerful findings: more of our Pioneers work in education than ever before, they're tackling the most critical issues in education sector-wide, and they're highly satisfied with their work.

As a current EP Analyst Fellow, I’m in the midst of an incredibly transformational experience. And while I don’t yet have the benefit of hindsight, I know choosing this program was the right choice. If you’re considering taking the leap, here’s why I think you should.

Vi Nguyen once thought that her success story was the norm. When she was nine years old, Vi and her family emigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam, and Vi enrolled in Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa as an English-as-a-Second-Language student. With help and guidance from teachers and counselors, Vi thrived and went on to earn a college degree from Yale University. Working as an analyst in the U.S. Congressional Budget Office and researching Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans, Vi realized that her success story was the exception.

Hear two Education Pioneers Graduate School Fellowship Alumni – Tommy Day and Maddy Devine – share their stories of becoming EP Fellows, how EP advanced their careers, and the impact they’ve made in the field.

EP Alumni are making powerful change in our country. Among our thriving community of leaders, here are just a few recent, high-profiles successes of pioneers who have been recognized for their innovative and important work on behalf of students. We’re proud to share their accolades.

When EP Alumna Erica Mosca (Graduate School Fellowship 2011) made Las Vegas her home, it wasn’t the lure of luxe nightlife that attracted her. Instead, it was the opportunity to open students’ eyes to possibilities beyond the Strip.