Peg Maddocks, Ph.D. has been named Executive Director of NapaLearns, effective January 3, 2012.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, NapaLearns supports students, teachers and administrators in Napa County with the classroom technology, digital curriculum, funding and partnerships they need to be successful in today's online world.

In this newly created position, Maddocks will be responsible for advancing NapaLearns’ innovative programs to improve the educational outcomes of students in public schools throughout Napa County.

She’ll work collaboratively with the Napa County Office of Education and with the five school districts to deploy the latest computer technologies and inquiry-based curricula, provide training and coaching to classroom teachers and develop a robust data analysis capability to measure the effectiveness of the tools introduced to the county’s classrooms.

“We are thrilled to have Peg join NapaLearns as our first Executive Director,” said Chuck McMinn, president of the NapaLearns Board of Directors. “Peg brings a new level of commitment and capability in our quest to prepare all Napa Valley students for their educational, career and citizenship roles in our digital, knowledge worker economy.”

While Maddocks has spent most of her career in private sector leadership positions, she began her professional life as a teacher, principal and program director in a K-12 public school district.

Maddocks worked at Cisco Systems for 14 years, and in 2005, she directed the company’s largest philanthropic initiative for 21^st century schools in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. In that capacity, she was responsible for creating a process for distributing $80 million in program dollars, professional services and technology to improve the performance in 132 schools in Mississippi and Louisiana by creating student-centered, technology-enabled learning environments.

Most recently, Maddocks served as CEO of Maddocks Learning, a consulting practice focused on accelerating educational change through the redesign of classwork to enable successful integration of technology.

She has also worked with numerous nonprofits over the years, including serving on the leadership team of the Council for Continuous Improvement in Silicon Valley; serving as a trustee on the board of a pre-K-8 private school; and participating in program development for the Schlechty Center for School Leadership, Strategic Learning Initiatives, Resource Area for Teachers and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

“I am honored and excited to join NapaLearns as Executive Director and to work with the enthusiastic and distinguished Board of Directors, as well as the administrators, teachers and students of Napa County schools,” says Maddocks.

“I am eager to apply all that I have learned throughout my career to lead the innovative initiatives that will transform learning and teaching so that all students in Napa County will be prepared for college and careers in the 21^st century.”

Maddocks holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education/Special Education, Supervision and a Master’s of Education in School Administration from Rhode Island College as well as a Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology from Michigan State University.

She is the author of several articles for professional magazines and journals and has spoken at many national and international conferences.

About NapaLearns

NapaLearns is a public benefit corporation formed to support and sustain educational improvements and innovations in all schools throughout Napa County and to bring equal educational opportunity to all students.

NapaLearns was incorporated in 2010 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and its board is comprised of local business and community leaders, the Napa County superintendent, the superintendents of the five Napa County school districts, and educational researchers and innovators from inside and outside the county. Peg Maddocks, Ph.D. is the organization’s first Executive Director.

For more information, please visit the website at www.napalearns.org.