FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INSTRUCTION PARTNERS NAMES EUGENE PINKARD JR. AS FIRST PRESIDENT

NASHVILLE, TN, JANUARY 16, 2025 – Instruction Partners is excited to announce that Eugene Pinkard Jr. will join the organization as its first president on March 6, 2025. Working in partnership with CEO Emily Freitag, Pinkard will manage the internal work of the organization, ensuring partnerships with schools, school systems, and states are strong; research and development goals are met; and staff are supported and empowered. 

“I am confident we have found the right person for this important role,” says Freitag. “Gene brings incredible experience and commitment to our mission and values. From our first conversation, I have appreciated his compelling blend of curiosity and reflectiveness, focus on impact, care for people, and practical commitment to serving those furthest from opportunity. I am very excited to partner with Gene in the leadership of the organization.”

Pinkard began his education career as a teacher—first in rural South Africa, then in Washington, DC. During his time at DC Public Schools, he also served as a principal, principal supervisor, and cabinet member. Most recently, Pinkard has spent five years as director of K–12 leadership at the Aspen Institute Education & Society Program, leading a team that supports education leaders across the nation and develops resources and guidance for the sector. 

“I am honored and excited to have this opportunity as the president of Instruction Partners. It’s a privilege to join a team that is well known for being smart, energetic, and impactful,” says Pinkard. “My own experience with school systems makes me confident that Instruction Partners is doing the right work for the kids who need it the most, and I’m eager to join the team as a leader toward ambitious goals for improvement, accomplishment, and joy.”

Instruction Partners is a national, K–12 education nonprofit whose mission is to “strengthen instructional leadership in schools, school systems, and states to ensure teachers have the support they need to improve learning experiences and learning outcomes for students—with attention to students of color, students experiencing poverty, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.”

CONTACT:

Gail Armstrong, Instruction Partners, 334-350-0256, gail.armstrong@instructionpartners.org, https://instructionpartners.org/