WASHINGTON (November 2, 2023) – The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Carey M. Wright, former Mississippi State Superintendent of Education and current interim Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, will serve as the newest member of DQC’s Board of Directors.
“I am honored to welcome Dr. Wright to DQC’s Board,” said DQC President and CEO Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger. “Her expertise and commitment to public service will help DQC ensure that everyone who needs access to information—from students and families to principals and policymakers—has the information they need to navigate their education and career paths, and support students and learners as they make decisions about their futures.”
DQC welcomes Dr. Wright to the Board as she serves a three-year term.
Dr. Carey M. Wright is currently serving as the interim Maryland State Superintendent of Schools. She was previously the state superintendent of education for Mississippi from 2013 until her retirement in June 2022. Under her leadership, Mississippi initiated aggressive education reforms that have resulted in unprecedented academic success and rising student achievement. Because of the state’s boost in student performance, Quality Counts recognized Mississippi in 2018 as one of the five most improved states in the nation.
A passionate advocate for early childhood education, Dr. Wright implemented Mississippi’s first publicly funded Early Learning Collaborative program, which earned the state recognition from the National Institute for Early Education Research as one of only seven states in the nation that meet all or most quality standards for early childhood education.
Prior to her appointment as state superintendent for Mississippi, Dr. Wright served as chief academic officer and deputy chief for the office of teaching and learning for the District of Columbia Public Schools and as a consultant to the Harvard Business School Public Education Leadership Project. Dr. Wright previously served as associate superintendent for the Office of Special Education and Student Services for Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools and spent the earlier part of her career in Howard County (MD) Public Schools as a teacher, a principal, and the director of special education and student services. She began her career as a teacher in Prince George’s County (MD) Public Schools.
Dr. Wright has been recognized as an outstanding educator by the National Center for Culturally Responsive Systems, nominated twice for The Washington Post Outstanding Principal Award, and awarded the Howard County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator of the Year. In 2022, Dr. Wright earned the “Mississippi Top 50 Most Influential Leaders” award.
Dr. Wright is past president of the board of directors for the Council of Chief State School Officers, a former Chiefs for Change executive board member, and an alumnus of the Broad Academy. She holds a doctorate of education and a master’s degree in education from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Dr. Carey M. Wright’s appointment to DQC’s Board of Directors comes as the tenures of longtime members José Luis Cruz Rivera, president of Northern Arizona University, and Tony Marshall, founder, president, and CEO of Innovative Systems Group, Inc., come to an end. DQC is appreciative of the leadership and expertise José and Tony contributed to the organization’s advocacy efforts and looks forward to following their continued success.
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Contact: Blair Mann, bmann@dataqualitycampaign.org, 610-724-5914
About the Data Quality Campaign
The Data Quality Campaign is a nonprofit policy and advocacy organization leading the effort to ensure that data works for everyone navigating their education and workforce journeys. For more information, go to www.dataqualitycampaign.org.
