Denise Airola, Ph.D., is a seasoned education leader, researcher, and strategist with over 30 years of experience driving systems-level improvement across the P–20 landscape. She currently serves in the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas, where she supports data-informed decision-making and policy development to advance learner success across the state.
Dr. Airola previously served as the founding Director of the Office of Innovation for Education (OIE), where she led pioneering efforts to integrate research, assessment, and innovation into school improvement. Under her leadership, OIE provided vital support to schools, districts, and state agencies—helping Arkansas education leaders design and implement fair and student-centered systems.
A nationally recognized expert in education statistics and research methods, Dr. Airola co-authored Arkansas’s approved Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan and developed tools to build educators’ confidence and skill in using data. She regularly consults with state and national leaders on large-scale assessment systems, accountability frameworks, and policy evaluation, with her research featured in peer-reviewed publications and national education forums.
Dr. Airola brings a deep commitment to learners and a belief that lasting change happens when policy, practice, and people are aligned around a shared vision of learning. At the 2025 Education Innovation Rally, she will offer powerful insights to help education leaders grow rooted systems that cultivate success for every learner.
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