Background:

Evan Coughenour is a partner at Bellwether in the Strategic Advising practice area.

Since joining Bellwether in 2014, Evan’s clients have included state education agencies, school districts and charter networks, early childhood organizations and intermediaries, Catholic school networks, postsecondary access and success organizations, and major foundations. Prior to Bellwether, Evan worked as both a consultant and special assistant to the CEO at ASI Government, interned at A Better Chicago, and taught in the District of Columbia 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, a recovering runner, a lover of all things music, proud husband of a longtime 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 offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Strengthening our education system is our generation’s most challenging and worthwhile work. During my time as a tutor and teacher, I was struck by disparities in educational opportunity, the wildly different outcomes of students growing up only a few miles apart, and the degree to which these opportunities and outcomes were determined by geography and family resources — amplified by policy, prejudice, and parochialism. The tight correlation of children’s educational achievement with parental social and economic status belies the American Dream. Our country can and must do better and I am thrilled to contribute in a small way toward rebuilding our most critical institutions — in partnership with my committed colleagues at Bellwether and those at the organizations we serve.

Experience at Bellwether:

Strategic Planning; New Organization Design and Launch; Business Plan Development; Growth and Expansion Strategy; Human Capital/Organizational Design; Performance Improvement/Sustainability; Performance Metrics; Financial Analysis and Modeling; Implementation Planning; Market Assessment; Project Management; CMO/Charter School Operators; District Schools; Foundations; Advocacy Organizations; Board Governance; Mergers and Strategic Partnerships; Divestitures and Organization Spinouts; Coalitions and Collective Impact

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; Board Governance

Sample clients:

KIPP Texas Public Schools, Archdiocese of New York Catholic Schools, The College Board, Communities In Schools, Dayton Early College Academy, Sobrato Philanthropies, Amplify Learning, Core Knowledge Foundation, Opportunity 180, Missouri Charter Public School Association, Arkansas Department of Education, EdChoice, EL Education, Walton Personal Philanthropy Group, Friendship Public Charter Schools, Excellent Schools New Mexico, Microsoft, Gates Foundation, Fulton County School District, Charter School Growth Fund, KIPP SoCal Public Schools, Washington State Charter Schools Association, New Orleans Early Education Network, Partnership Schools, Ascend Learning, Cullen Foundation, BRICK Education Network, Citizen Schools, Save the Children, Child Care Associates, Kansas City Teacher Residency, Deans for Impact, LISA Academy Public Charter Schools, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, College Possible

Issue Area Expertise:

Charter Schools
Private Schools