North Wasco County School District appoints Allison Ivey as director of Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Ivey brings extensive experience in district and school improvement, instructional leadership, and equity-centered policy development. Most recently, she served with the Oregon Department of Education as a District Support Specialist with the Intensive Program and as Digital Learning Program Specialist & Interim Director. In these roles, she supported districts in strengthening continuous improvement systems, strategic planning, and instructional coherence; helped to advance statewide initiatives in literacy, computer science, and multilingual learning; and supported the development of a statewide accountability framework aligned with HB 2656 and SB 141. She also authored and co-developed widely adopted guidance documents, including Enhancing the Learning Environment: A Toolkit for Implementing Personal Electronic Device Policies in Schools, Key Components of Digital Learning (V2), Generative AI Guidance (V1), and Digital Learning Instructional Design and Pedagogical Considerations.

Ivey began her career as a classroom teacher in Nevada and California before serving as an Instructional Coach and Restorative Justice School-Based Coach. She has also served in higher education as an assistant professor and adjunct instructor at the University of Oregon, and as an adjunct instructor at Great Basin College, leading coursework and clinical experiences designed to strengthen K–12 instructional practice. These combined experiences continue to ground her leadership in classroom practice while shaping her system-level approach to educational transformation.

She holds a Ph.D. in Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education from the University of Oregon, a M.Ed. in Urban Teaching from UCLA, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her scholarship has appeared in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Equity & Excellence in Education, Contemporary Justice Review, and Computer Science Education.

She has led professional learning for district leaders and educators, weaving together equity-centered facilitation, data-informed reflection, and evidence-based improvement strategies. Grounded in improvement and implementation science, Ivey helps districts design and sustain systems that advance instructional coherence and student success. Her leadership spans collaborative policy development and strengthening the connections between research, policy, and practice to drive meaningful and lasting impact.

In her new role at D21, Dr. Ivey will oversee K–12 curriculum development, staff professional learning, assessment systems, school improvement initiatives, and federal program administration.

“Dr. Ivey brings a rare combination of classroom experience, state-level leadership, and research expertise,” said Carolyn Bernal, superintendent of North Wasco County School District. “Her vision and depth of knowledge will strengthen our district’s capacity to deliver high-quality, equitable learning opportunities for our students.”