Education Pioneers Launches Program to Increase Data Expertise Within Public Education Sector

Education Nonprofit Responds to Critical Need for Data-Based Decision-Making Expertise

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education Pioneers, a nonprofit organization committed to developing the next generation of public education leadership, today announced its new Analyst Fellowship program designed in response to the demand for more highly-skilled analytical talent within the public education system. Beginning in September, Education Pioneers has placed experienced professionals with corporate data analysis experience into public education organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The ten-month pilot program will provide school districts, charter school organizations, and education nonprofits with the ability to analyze critical data and manage strategic data projects, which is a top priority as the organizations strive to improve student achievement and prepare kids for college and beyond.

The objective of the program is to provide educational organizations with talented business professionals who have experience implementing data solutions within corporate environments. These 11 Analyst Fellows have worked at top-tier private sector firms such as Bain and Company, Goldman Sachs, and Deloitte Consulting, in positions where they developed expertise in financial, operational, and strategic business analytic skills. Their unique and targeted knowledge will help organizations adopt practices that will assist with effective program management, thorough problem-solving, and organizational efficiency for years to come. As a result, school districts and charter schools will be able to use data in evaluating their operations and programs to more effectively carry out their missions and improve student achievement.

"This Analyst Fellowship program has the potential to be a 'game changer' for public education and the reform movement," said Scott Morgan, founder and CEO of Education Pioneers. "Analytical skills and talent of this type are key components to what the field of education needs to move the needle on closing the achievement gap that currently exists between white students and students of color."

This first group of Fellows has been placed at Bay Area organizations including Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), Aspire Public Schools, and New Leaders for New Schools. The Fellows will be utilizing their expertise through projects that include student achievement and growth modeling, program evaluations, financial modeling, and budget and data management. As an example, OUSD will have a Fellow work on a school program evaluation that will allow the district to effectively reflect back and communicate to schools what works and what doesn't to ensure they have the necessary tools needed to begin proactively addressing issues within their schools. Among many other objectives, the Fellow will create a database of effective practices that will be shared and implemented throughout the district.

"We are thrilled to be the first school district in the country benefiting from Education Pioneers' Analyst program," said Tony Smith, Superintendent of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). "We anticipate that our investment in trained analytical talent will have a profound impact on how we use data to improve student achievement in OUSD."

In addition to the new Analyst Fellowship program, Education Pioneers has been operating its flagship Graduate School Fellowship program successfully for seven years where it selects and trains talent from the nation's top graduate schools to be leaders in the public education sector. With seven offices across the country, and over 900 Alumni, Education Pioneers is an established presence in supplying urban public education organizations with top-notch human capital.

About Education Pioneers

Education Pioneers mobilizes and prepares a national network of talented leaders and entrepreneurs to transform our education system into one that equips all students with the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and life. Through the organization's Fellowship and Alumni leadership programs, Education Pioneers increases the talent supply of top leaders in education and improves leadership capacity in key organizations - such as school districts, charter school organizations, and nonprofits - in the education sector. More information about Education Pioneers can be found at www.educationpioneers.org.

SOURCE Education Pioneers