Ryan Patenaude Joins Women Leading Ed Fiduciary Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2026
Ed tech leader is first man to serve in his role for the national bipartisan network
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Women Leading Ed, the nation’s largest bipartisan network of women education leaders, announced K-12 ed tech entrepreneur, operator, and strategic advisor Ryan Patenaude as its newest fiduciary board member.
The first man to serve in the role of Board Member, Patenaude has built change-making educational ventures from the ground-up, driven student outcomes at scale for millions of students in partnership with districts around the country, and was a pioneer in outcomes-based contracting in the ed tech space. Today, he serves as Founder and Managing Director of RP Impact Partners, a strategic advisory firm that partners with EdTech companies committed to making positive change in K-12 education, those addressing the biggest opportunities in the space and with high growth potential.
“Ryan brings both the entrepreneurial mindset and the outcomes-focused discipline that this moment in education leadership demands,” said Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, CEO and Founder of Women Leading Ed. “He has built and scaled work that delivers real results for students, and just as importantly, he understands that strong systems are built by investing in people. His decision to join our fiduciary board reflects both his belief in the power of women leading this field and his commitment to helping expand and sustain that leadership for the future.”
Patenaude called the opportunity to serve on the Women Leading Ed fiduciary board both personal and deeply aligned with his long-standing commitment to education.
“Women Leading Ed is doing something this field urgently needs: building and backing the leaders who will shape what comes next,” said Patenaude. “My own path in education has been shaped by extraordinary women and educators, and this is an opportunity to honor that legacy in a meaningful way. I’m proud to support a community that is not just elevating women in leadership, but strengthening the entire education system in the process.”
Women Leading Ed is a network of over 600 bipartisan district and state superintendents, charter school leaders, and c-suite executives across all 50 states, collectively serving more than 25 million students, 1 in 2 public school students nationwide. The organization focuses on identifying, elevating, and sustaining both today’s leaders and the next generation who are ready to drive bold, transformative change.
To learn more about Women Leading Ed, its programs, research, and membership, visit www.WomenLeadingEd.org.
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