Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez is the new Director of DoDEA

Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez assumed the role of Director of DoDEA on June 1, 2024, following former Director Tom Brady’s retirement on May 31, 2024.

Dr. Schiavino-Narvaez had been the Chief Academic Officer for the Department of Defense Education Activity since April 2020 and has more than 30 years of experience in education.

Prior to joining DoDEA in 2016 to lead the Center for Instructional Leadership in DoDEA’s Pacific Region, Dr. Schiavino-Narvaez served as superintendent of the Hartford, Connecticut Public Schools; Deputy Superintendent for School Support and Improvement for the Montgomery County, Maryland Schools; Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer in the Springfield, Massachusetts Public Schools; as a school principal, and as a teacher.

“Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez is the ideal choice for the next Director of DoDEA.” said Ashish S. Vazirani, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. “She brings the difficult-to-find combination of leadership, expertise, hands-on experience, and a deep familiarity with DoDEA. Her handling of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic ensured DoDEA students experienced greater academic continuity during the pandemic than the majority of their counterparts in other school environments. She has what it takes to succeed in this position, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration in her new leadership role.”

During her first year as Director of DoDEA, Dr. Narvaez has stated her intention to prioritize streamlining the teacher hiring process, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and implementing Universal Pre-Kindergarten.

“I am so grateful to Director Brady for his leadership of DoDEA,” said Dr. Schiavino-Narvaez. “During his decade long tenure, Director Brady has unified our three regions into One DoDEA, successfully implemented our College and Career Ready Standards, and elevated our schools into the highest rated system in the country, repeatedly leading all 50 States in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the ‘Nation’s Report Card.’ Director Brady has left behind some very large shoes to fill, and I am honored and grateful for the trust that he has placed in me to continue his legacy. The men and women of DoDEA, at Headquarters, in the regions, and in the classrooms, are among the very best in their fields, and every day I am inspired by their expertise, their creativity, and their dedication to supporting students and military-connected families. I have complete confidence in our team and feel tremendous enthusiasm for the road ahead.”

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-age children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Agencies throughout the United States that serve children of military families.