Doug Roberts
A Princeton graduate, Doug is a former public high school social studies teacher and
EdTech business development executive who earned his EdM in Teaching and
Curriculum from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
For nearly 20 years, he worked with school district leaders and EdTech entrepreneurs.
Eventually, he saw a need to bridge the gap between these two groups of brilliant
people and find ways to help them foster mutual partnerships. This gap led Doug to
create The Institute for Education Innovation (IEI). Founded in 2018, IEI is a dedicated
membership of mission-driven thought leaders committed to improving student
outcomes. When faced with challenges, these entrepreneurial-minded school
district leaders pivot on a dime to respond with innovation, agility, and
resourcefulness.
Doug couldn’t have dreamed of the impact IEI would have on school district leaders
and education organizations and the opportunities it has created to develop better
solutions that today support students across the nation. Today, IEI boasts 100+
members and facilitates national and regional conferences throughout the United
States. It also supports future education leaders through IEI:Lead, which helps
aspiring superintendents develop professionally into the superintendency role. IEI
also holds workshops to support and further the conversation on equity and
inclusion in education and help women in leadership break the glass ceiling.
Doug also created the Supes’ Choice Awards. The Supes’ Choice Awards are the only
education industry awards judged exclusively by school district superintendents.
Each EdTech product and solution is evaluated based on a commitment to student
outcomes, innovation and ingenuity, client support, interactivity, and engagement.
Doug is passionate about every child’s right to a high-quality public education,
equity, inclusion, his family, the Yankees, and connecting K-12 leaders to discuss big
ideas for the future of learning.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.