Let's Chat: Insights From The First-Ever Chief Deputy of Innovation at the Department of Education

In this inspiring interview, we sit down with Mary Nicely, the Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction at the California Department of Education (CDE), who is transforming the Department of Education through modernization, innovation, and cutting-edge technology. As the first-ever deputy or chief deputy with a technology background, she shares how the department is embracing change to better serve students, families, and educators.

🔍 Key Highlights:

• Modernizing Education: How the department is shifting toward innovation, using new software and technology to improve workflows and break down silos.

• Pilot Projects & Early Wins: Examples like grants management and workflow automation, moving from paper-based processes to digital solutions that benefit staff and customers alike.

• Data Strategy & AI Leadership: Insights into the department’s groundbreaking initiatives, including being the first state education agency to develop a data strategy and issue AI guidance nationwide.

• Demystifying AI: The importance of transparency and education around AI, including the launch of an AI task force involving industry partners, parents, students, and teachers.

• Bridging Generational Gaps: How a focus on the mission of education unites staff across generations and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Inspiration: The value of learning from other agencies and leveraging existing solutions to drive innovation without starting from scratch.

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