PEN Announces Leadership Transition In Its 20th Anniversary Year
As the Pasadena Education Network (PEN) celebrates two decades of connecting families to public schools, the organization is also marking a significant moment of transition. After 18 years of leadership, Executive Director Nancy Rose Dufford will retire at the end of the school year. She will be succeeded by Jennifer Allan Goldman, the current Chair of PEN’s Board of Directors.
Over the course of Dufford’s tenure, she helped transform PEN from a grassroots startup into a trusted community resource serving thousands of families across Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. Under her leadership, PEN has grown into an organization with more than 2,000 members, guiding over 6,500 parents through key school transitions and helping thousands more experience local campuses through school tours.
“Congratulations to PEN on 20 years of partnership and advocacy in support of Pasadena Unified’s students,” said Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D. “PEN has helped bring families into PUSD, elevated the family voice, and supported opportunities for students. We appreciate the role they play in our school district.”
PEN began in 2003, when a group of preschool parents, concerned by what they’d heard about Pasadena Unified’s public schools, decided to see for themselves. When they found engaging classrooms and dedicated educators, that reshaped their perspective and defined PEN’s mission: to work collaboratively with PUSD to promote family participation in our public schools so that all children in PUSD could succeed.
In 2006, PEN incorporated as a nonprofit and began providing families with accurate information and meaningful connections. PEN launched its signature school tours and fact sheets, giving families rare access to campuses at a time when tours were not yet offered, a practice that is now standard across the district.
Dufford joined PEN in its early years and helped expand that mission. PEN has introduced a wide range of programs to support families at every stage of their educational journey. From “Choosing an Elementary School” and “Getting Ready for Kindergarten” to middle and high school transition programs, PEN has consistently focused on easing critical decision points for parents.
The organization has also played a key role in shaping district policies and practices. PEN partnered with Pasadena Unified to improve the Open Enrollment process, making it more equitable and user-friendly. It facilitated revisions to the district’s homework policy, developed transition plans for specialized programs like Dual Language Immersion, and contributed parent perspectives to the district’s Master Plan through extensive surveys and engagement efforts.
Beyond programming, Dufford championed initiatives that elevated parent voices and expanded access. PEN launched Parents as Leaders training programs, created targeted outreach for parents of students with special needs and parents of English learners, and collaborated with local partners to educate real estate professionals about public school options. Its Rodney E. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship has awarded $10,000 to Pasadena Unified seniors, further reflecting the organization’s commitment to student success.
Stepping into the role of Executive Director is Jennifer Allan Goldman, who has served as Chair of PEN’s Board of Directors for the past six years. A longtime advocate for public education and an active community leader, Allan Goldman brings both continuity and fresh perspective to the organization’s next chapter.
“What began as a small group of parents asking questions grew into something much bigger. PEN has created a community of families who are informed, engaged, and connected, and our schools are better because of that.” said Dufford. “Jennifer’s leadership on the board has been thoughtful and strategic. I believe our network of parents will thrive and grow with her at the helm.”
Allan Goldman steps into the role at a pivotal moment of both reflection and opportunity. As PEN celebrates its 20th anniversary, it continues to build on its founding principles while adapting to the changing needs of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre families.
“I’m excited to expand my work with PEN,” said Allan Goldman. “I’ve learned so much from Nancy since I joined the Board nine years ago. I look forward to putting that knowledge to good use for our communities and public schools.”
From its early days of organizing informal school visits to its current reach across thousands of households, PEN’s impact is both measurable and deeply personal. For many families, it has served as a first point of connection—a place to ask questions, gather information, and ultimately feel confident in choosing public education.
“PEN helped guide our elementary school decision, and we’ve been so happy with our children’s public school experience,” said Tiffany Hwang, Vice Chair of the PEN Board. “PEN continues to be our constant, trusted resource for navigating transitions and staying connected to what’s happening in PUSD. Just as important, PEN has created friendships, community, and lots of fun along the way.”
As Dufford prepares to step away, the organization she helped shape stands as a testament to the power of informed community engagement. And as Allan Goldman prepares to lead, PEN looks ahead with the same guiding belief that sparked its founding: that when families have access to clear, credible information, they can make the best choices for their children and strengthen our public schools for everyone.
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