Gene Pinkard serves as President of Instruction Partners, a national K-12 education nonprofit dedicated to strengthening instructional leadership in schools, systems, and states to improve outcomes for all students. He is the first person to hold the President role at the organization, where he oversees research and development, partnership programs, and professional learning for staff, ensuring schools and educators have the tools to help students thrive.
Gene previously served as Director of K-12 Leadership at the Aspen Institute, developing sector-leading resources and convening education leaders from across the nation. At Washington D.C. Public Schools, he was a cabinet member and Chief of School Design and Continuous Improvement, as well as a principal supervisor, where his teams advanced school turnaround, innovation, and programs supporting young men and educators of color.
Earlier in his career, Gene was a principal for nine years—first turning around an alternative charter high school and later leading a dual language elementary school—earning recognition for student and school success. He began his work in education as a teacher in rural South Africa before returning to classrooms in U.S. public and private schools.
Gene is a Pahara Fellow and currently serves on the boards of the Folger Shakespeare Library, Trinity Washington University and the School Leader Lab. His thought leadership has been featured in EdWeek, The 74, The Hechinger Report, and USA Today.
He holds a Master of School Administration from Trinity Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Theology from Georgetown University.
