Leanna Jones Completes National Education Policy Fellowship
We are proud to celebrate our Community Engagement Manager, Leanna Jones, who recently completed the Institute for Educational Leadership's Spring 2026 Education Policy Fellowship Program™ (EPFP). This prestigious seven-week national program is now in its 62nd year, and Leanna was one of 86 fellows from across the country selected to deepen their capacity in education policy, advocacy, and systems change.
One of Leanna's biggest takeaways was gaining practical structure she can bring directly back to Racine County.
"The fellowship gave me a different look into what tools and structure I can bring to the community I work with. Creating a toolkit to give better guidance into policy work and community efforts is something I can put to use right away."
The fellowship also introduced her to policy case studies, something new to her practice. Working with a virtual group of peers, she learned how to navigate research and apply it to real community challenges. Across panel discussions and breakout groups, one theme kept coming up: communities across the country are facing shared struggles, and collaboration is the answer.
"Now more than ever, it's important for community to be aware of policies impacting themselves and their families, and for every community member to know where and how to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas."
The cross-sector mix of fellows, drawn from business, education, government, and nonprofits, pushed Leanna's thinking in new ways while also giving her the chance to share what's working here in Racine.
"I felt grounded, but it also helped me open my mind to how important it is to include those other perspectives in my work."
Leanna returns from EPFP with new skills, new frameworks, and new connections she's already building on. Her participation strengthens our organization's ability to advocate for policies that support students, families, and communities across Racine County.