Sabrina Pence graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and subsequently joined Teach For America during which she taught in Pointe Coupee Parish for four years as a fifth and sixth grade teacher. During that time, she received her master’s degree in educational administration from Louisiana State University in 2005. She served as a teacher leader, leading parish-wide professional development and teaching a K-3 alternative teacher certification course through TNTP.

In 2006, she moved overseas to Qatar and worked in educational reform as a science consultant for K-6 schools, training Qatari teachers to implement standards-based science instruction. In 2008, she returned to the United States to join New Leaders for New Schools in New Orleans, LA. After completing her New Leaders residency at Arthur Ashe, Pence served as principal of Albert Wicker Literacy Academy, where the school saw unprecedented gains, then returning to Arthur Ashe as vice principal, because she knew it was home. Sabrina served as the school co-director at Arthur Ashe Charter School from 2011-2014, leading the school to achieve a “B” letter grade in the state accountability system.

Sabrina became FirstLine’s chief academic officer in July 2014 and led all FirstLine Schools to achieve “A” letter grades for growth, with two of the schools, Samuel J. Green and Langston Hughes Academy, recognized as top growth in the region. Sabrina was named as CEO beginning in July 2019 by FirstLine's board of directors. Sabrina recently completed her doctorate in educational administration at the University of New Orleans.