Dear Ed Fund Community,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to announce that on July 11th Ann Walden will join the Ed Fund as our new Chief Executive Officer. An exceptional leader, Ann has more than 20 years of experience in developing, launching, and improving educational and philanthropic programs. When Ann shared the story of growing up in a Bay Area household dedicated to creating equal opportunities in education, I could sense her deep commitment to the difficult and important work of improving opportunities for all students. After spending time with the board and the Ed Fund’s leadership team, we’re confident that Ann’s passion for this work makes her the ideal leader to steward the Ed Fund’s next chapter in our pursuit of educational equity in San Francisco schools.
Most recently, Ann completed a successful tenure as Executive Director at The Primary School in East Palo Alto. Widely regarded for its innovative approach to serving its 400 students — and supporting a staff of 100 — Ann managed the organization and its $9M budget which orchestrated a K-8 Private School and a California State Preschool Program. Under her leadership, The Primary School launched, grew and iterated on programs such as the Parent Coaching Program, the Health Program and the Birth-to-Three Program, all of which support the whole child model at The Primary School. What most stood out to us was her collaborative approach and focus on staff throughout the implementation of an ambitious vision. Not only will Ann bring a grand vision to the Ed Fund, but she will most certainly cultivate a culture of excellence for our staff and organization.
Ann shares:
“This incredible opportunity is a dream come true for me. I am deeply passionate about ensuring equitable access to quality public education and supporting the growth and success of every student… in particular for our most under-resourced and underserved students. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate group of staff, partners and board members at the Ed Fund, and I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to make a lasting difference for the students in San Francisco.”
Ann’s commitment to improving education systems is unwavering. She holds a Master of Educational Development from Columbia University Teacher’s College and a Master of Urban Education Leadership from the Broad Residency. Her experience is diverse and impactful. From working in India to supporting a nonprofit dedicated to educating the children of seasonal migrants, to serving as the Program Director for Education Pioneers in Chicago, to her time as Director of Strategic Operations for Chicago Public Schools, Ann has seen many different organizations and implemented strategy to improve education in a number of different environments. Put simply, Ann brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge to the Ed Fund’s work. Her strategic vision — coupled with her innovative mindset — aligns perfectly with the Ed Fund’s values and goals, and we are confident that she is the right leader to support the Ed Fund with the next phase of our journey.
As we embark on this exciting new chapter with Ann at the helm, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Stacey Wang for her outstanding leadership and dedication. Stacey’s tireless efforts have set a solid foundation for our continued success, and we appreciate all that she helped us achieve these past three years.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Ann Walden as our new CEO. With her leadership, we envision a future marked by growth, opportunity, and continued success for students, families and schools in San Francisco.
As we say at the Ed Fund, It takes a Community. We’re thrilled to welcome Ann into ours.
Warmly,
Becky Karsh
Board President
San Francisco Education Fund
