Background:
Evan Coughenour is a partner in Bellwether’s Strategic Advising practice area. Since Evan joined Bellwether in 2014, his clients have included state education agencies, Catholic school networks, early childhood intermediaries, and postsecondary access and success organizations. Prior to Bellwether, Evan interned at A Better Chicago, worked as both a consultant and special assistant to the CEO at ASI Government, and taught in Washington, D.C., as a Teach For America corps member.
Evan holds an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a master’s degree in elementary education from American University, and a bachelor’s degree with distinction in psychology from Yale University. Based in San Francisco, Evan is an outdoor enthusiast, an avid runner, a committed singer, proud husband of a KIPP school leader, and a beguiled father of two.
Why I do this work:
Teddy Roosevelt said, “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” I view strengthening our education system as our generation’s most challenging and worthwhile work. During my time as a tutor and teacher, I was struck by gaping disparities in educational opportunity, the wildly different outcomes of students growing up only a few miles apart, and the shameful degree to which these opportunities and outcomes are determined by one’s ZIP code and blind luck — and perpetuated by systemic racism and classism. The tight correlation of children’s educational achievement with parental social and economic status belies the American dream. I believe our country can and must do better and am thrilled to contribute in a small way toward such a worthwhile end with my other committed colleagues at Bellwether.
Experience at Bellwether:
Strategic Planning; New Organization Design and Launch; Business Plan Development; Growth and Expansion Strategy; Financial Analysis and Modeling; Implementation Planning; Market Assessment; Project Management; CMO/Charter School Operators; District Schools; State Education Agencies; Catholic Schools
Client segments served:
Early Childhood; K-12 Schools; Postsecondary/Higher Education; School Districts; CMO/Charter Schools; State Education Agencies; Foundations and Grantees; Nonprofit Organizations; Advocacy Groups; Product and Service Providers
Sample clients:
The College Board, Communities in Schools, Arkansas Department of Education, EdChoice, EL Education, Microsoft, Gates Foundation, Fulton County Schools, Charter School Growth Fund, New Orleans Early Education Network, Partnership Schools, Kansas City Teacher Residency, Deans for Impact
