Minnesota Department of Education Announces New Executive Team Members
Names Director of New Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center
ROSEVILLE, MN – Today, incoming Education Commissioner Dr. Heather Mueller has named new members to the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) Executive Team, including the director of the new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center at MDE.
Dr. Stephanie Burrage has been named the Deputy Commissioner of MDE and will oversee the new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center as well as the divisions of Government Relations and Human Resources/Agency Services. Dr. Burrage is currently serving as interim superintendent at Robbinsdale Public Schools, where she will finish out the school year before starting at MDE as Deputy on June 23. Dr. Burrage started her career in education at Minneapolis Public schools as a classroom teacher and principal. Prior to her time at Robbinsdale, she held administrative positions in Michigan’s education system as Assistant Superintendent at Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, and Superintendent of Covert Public Schools.
Stephanie Graff will serve as the Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Educational Opportunity, overseeing the divisions of School and Educator Support, Career and College Success, Student Access and Opportunity, and Data Practices and Analytics. She is currently working as a Special Advisor on Education for Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. Graff has previously held multiple roles at MDE providing leadership and support for efforts focused on equitable opportunities and outcomes for all of Minnesota’s students, most recently as the former Director of the Equity and Opportunity Division. Prior to her 10 years of service at MDE and the Governor’s Office, Stephanie was a high school math and AVID teacher.
Wendy Hatch will serve as Chief of Staff and Assistant Commissioner for the Office of External Relations, overseeing the divisions of Communications, Public Engagement, and the Commissioner’s Office support team. She is currently working as Director of Communications and Media Relations at MDE. Prior to coming to the department, Hatch served as press secretary for Klobuchar for Minnesota. She served as deputy press secretary for the Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin in Washington, D.C. She also held various positions in the Office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in Washington, D.C.
Ashleigh Norris will serve as Director of Communications and Media Relations. She is currently working as the Assistant Director of Communications and Media Relations at MDE. Prior to her current role, Norris also held positions as a Public Relations Account Executive at Padilla and as Orono Public Schools’ Programming and Marketing Coordinator.
New Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center
MDE’s new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Center will provide leadership, direction, and support in the development and implementation of an equity framework that guides the work and decision-making of the agency. Externally, the EDI Center will support school districts and charter schools in best practices and specialized strategies to address systemic bias and inequities.
As a member of MDE’s Executive Team, the EDI Center Director position will be filled by Dr. Macarre Traynham, a professional with more than 20 years of experience in education, professional development, and organizational leadership. She currently serves as the Educational Equity Specialist at MDE where she designs and leads professional development, works as a thought-partner with various internal divisions and the Regional Centers of Excellence, is the co-chair to the One MDE diversity council, and has co-created and co-authored the Equity Magnifier and the soon to be completed Equity Guidebook for the State.
Dr. Macarre Traynham, Stephanie Graff, Wendy Hatch, and Ashleigh Norris will all start in their new roles on March 31, 2021.
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