Dr. Vanessa Wrenn, Chief Information Officer
In the August 2021 State Board meeting, Superintendent Truitt announced senior leadership additions and changes as part of the agency’s continuing efforts to align its work to the Superintendent’s long-term transformational plan for public education, Operation Polaris, and the State Board of Education’s Strategic Vision.
Dr. Vanessa Wrenn is now NC Department of Public Instruction’s Chief Information Officer. Previously, Dr. Wrenn joined the Department of Public Instruction as the director of the Division of Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) after 22 years of experience working as an educator and administrator. She is focused on innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the digital age, especially broadening equitable access to quality digital resources and also blended instruction and personalized learning.
Prior to joining DPI, Wrenn served in Granville County Public Schools as the director of digital teaching and learning, chief technology officer, director of career and technical education, and online learning. During her time as director of digital teaching and learning with Granville schools, Wrenn led the implementation of the digital learning plan, device equity, infrastructure expansion, and the development of digital learning competencies for teachers and administrators. She has earned CETL and CeCTO certifications and maintains National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification in career and technical education. Wrenn engaged educators at all levels in innovative models of professional learning and strategic planning to support digital age teaching and learning.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Digital Teaching and Learning,” Wrenn said “I'm truly excited about the impact of the DTL community, serving the state, expanding the value of personalized learning and showcasing the importance of the digital age learning voice on important issues facing public education."
A North Carolina native, Wrenn began her career as a career and technical education teacher, where she was awarded NCACTE Marketing Teacher-of- the-Year. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master of science in curriculum and instruction from North Carolina State University, and she holds a doctorate in education from Liberty University. Wrenn has developed and directed blended and online schools, which leverage innovative practices in digital-age learning. Wrenn said she is committed to superior customer service to all public schools and school transformation through digital teaching and learning.
FALL CONNECT
Save the Date: We’re excited to announce that our fall Media and Technology Directors’ ReConnect meeting will be held virtually on October 28, from 1-4. If you are a district level or charter library media or technology director, we hope you will join us in this gathering where NCDPI DTL and guest speakers will be sharing information, providing Q&A opportunities, and offering participant-driven unconference sessions. Stay tuned for details to be shared in the coming week.
ReThinkEd NC is an exciting opportunity for public school educators in North Carolina to receive innovative training and support in developing and expanding blended learning lessons for K-8 students. This initiative, funded by a grant from the US Dept of Education, will prepare cohorts of teachers to deliver lessons in multiple blended learning models. These lessons will be high-quality, standards-aligned and culturally relevant with support for parents of students who engage in remote learning. Additionally, Tier 1 counties will receive enhanced support. Educators who complete this free program will be recognized blended learning leaders through the awarding of badges. Lessons developed through this initiative will be posted in Go Open NC.
Educators who complete the requirements will be eligible to receive a stipend of $500. Each LEA may submit up to 10 nominees and each charter school may submit up to 2 nominees for this opportunity. Only superintendents of LEAs and executive directors of charter schools may submit nominations via a link received through email on July 19. Nominations are due August 30, 2021. If you are interested in registering, or if your district or charter has not received the link to register educators, please reach out to the Rethink Education Program Manager, Rachel Wright Junio at Rachel.wrightjunio@dpi.nc.gov.
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The Digital Teaching and Learning Department has partnered with Canvas to bring you a course and virtual support for new Canvas administrators. Any Canvas PSU administrator is welcome to take this course and there is no cost to enroll. Participants will be given access to a self-paced course that will be supported through monthly meetings that will focus on topics addressed within the course.
To Sign up, please fill out this form: https://ncdpi.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmAFSBk8BnU2YGG
Schedule: September-December 2021
- Live Course Walk Through - 30 minutes + 15 min Q&A about the course, meetings, etc.
- September 2, 10-10:45 a.m.
- or
- September 2, 3:30-4:15 p.m.
- Live Webinars - The New Canvas Admin cohort has the option to meet each month to go over modules from the resource course. This meeting will be above and beyond the support offered through the collective Homebase Meetings in September and November.
- September 23 2-3 p.m.
- Subaccount Admin Access
- Admin Settings
- Courses
- Terms
- October 14 2-3 p.m.
- People
- Permissions
- Grades
- November 4 2-3 p.m.
- Account Level Outcomes
- Question Banks
- Rubrics
- Dec 2 2-3 p.m.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley McBride /ashley.mcbride@dpi.nc.gov.
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