Lauren Chapalee
About Lauren Chapalee
Lauren Chapalee serves as the Director of Innovation at Great Minds, where she has worked since 2014. With a background in education reform, she focuses on teacher evaluation, curriculum design, and bridging theory with practice.
Work at Great Minds
Lauren Chapalee has served as the Director of Innovation at Great Minds since 2014. In this role, she focuses on developing innovative educational strategies and resources. Her work aims to enhance curriculum design and professional learning, ensuring that all children receive a knowledge-rich education. Chapalee's position allows her to influence educational practices on a national scale, leveraging her extensive experience in the field.
Previous Experience in Education
Before joining Great Minds, Lauren Chapalee worked at Hope Street Group as a National Teacher Fellow from 2013 to 2014. In this capacity, she collaborated with educators to advocate for effective teaching practices. Additionally, she held positions at the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), where she served as an Assistant Teacher for seven months in 2007 and as Coordinator of Literacy and Humanities from 2008 to 2014. Her roles involved sharing classroom experiences with policymakers to drive education reform.
Educational Background
Lauren Chapalee earned her Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education from George Mason University, where she studied from 2008 to 2010. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Policy (Education) and Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2002 to 2006. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her work in education reform and curriculum development.
Focus on Education Reform
In her professional capacity, Lauren Chapalee emphasizes the importance of teacher evaluation and incentives as part of her contributions to education reform. She actively engages with policymakers and the public to influence national policy and district actions. Her efforts are directed towards bridging the gap between educational theory and practice, ensuring that effective strategies are implemented in classrooms.