A Statement from Andrea Foggy-Paxton, Interim CEO, Education Leaders of Color
The 2026 elections have brought new and returning leaders into positions of responsibility across communities nationwide. While elections mark an important moment in our democratic process, the work of leadership extends far beyond Election Day.
The decisions made by elected leaders help shape the quality of our schools, the strength of our communities, and the opportunities available to young people and families. Those decisions influence not only what is possible today, but also the pathways to economic mobility and long-term success for generations to come.
At Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC), we believe leadership carries a responsibility to ensure that opportunity is not determined by a young person’s ZIP code, background, or circumstances.
That responsibility requires more than representation alone. It requires listening to communities, understanding the barriers they face, building relationships across sectors, and translating commitments into meaningful action.
Who leads matters. But what leaders do with the opportunity to lead matters just as much.
As we reflect on this election, I am especially proud to recognize EdLoC members Phil Kim, who was reelected to the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education, and José Magaña, who was reelected to the San José Unified School District Board of Education. Their continued service reflects the many ways members of our Network contribute to public education and civic leadership.
Across the country, leaders are navigating complex and interconnected challenges involving education, economic mobility, organizational sustainability, and the well-being of their communities. These challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. They call for collaboration across institutions, sectors, and perspectives, with the experiences and needs of communities informing the decisions that affect them.
Individual leaders can drive meaningful change, but lasting progress requires collective power. When leaders connect their knowledge, relationships, resources, and influence, they can address challenges that no single person or institution can solve alone. This is the power of the EdLoC Network: bringing leaders together not simply to exchange ideas, but to turn shared commitments into coordinated action that expands opportunity.
As we look ahead, our focus remains on what happens after the election. Leadership must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of young people, their families, and their communities: stronger schools, greater access to opportunity, clearer pathways to economic mobility, and communities equipped with the resources and support they need to thrive.
Ultimately, the success of our elected leaders will not be defined by the offices they hold, but by the outcomes they help deliver. And when individual leadership is strengthened by collective action, our ability to achieve those outcomes grows. That is the work ahead, and it is the work EdLoC remains committed to advancing alongside leaders and communities across the country.