Verna Lalbeharie joins EdTech Hub as incoming Executive Director

We are excited to announce that Verna Lalbeharie is joining EdTech Hub as the incoming Executive Director.

A native of South Africa, now living in North Carolina (USA), Lalbeharie brings not only 25 years of EdTech expertise to the role, but also a career-spanning commitment to evidence-building in education technology to create a more equitable future for all students.

“When I look at all that EdTech can achieve—more connected students who might otherwise get lost a system not designed for them; teachers getting the professional development they need to excel in the profession; data to inform decisions that impact millions of learners and entire countries—I see unprecedented educational opportunity,” says Lalbeharie.

Most recently, Lalbeharie served as Managing Director for Personalized Learning at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). There, she guided state and local departments of education in their consideration and implementation of personalized learning and EdTech initiatives. She also served as the co-chair of a national steering committee for the Ed Tech Genome project, a research network creating a framework for supporting informed EdTech purchasing decisions based on evidence.

Prior to AIR, in her role as North Carolina State Director of Digital Teaching and Learning, she led design and implementation of the digital learning initiative and the development of digital learning competencies for teachers and administrators. She also provided strategic vision and leadership for North Carolina’s enterprise suite of EdTech platforms and resources aligned to curriculum and pedagogy.

“It’s a thrilling time to be a part of the global EdTech community, especially when the need for generating evidence is so pivotal,” says Lalbeharie. “I look forward to joining the EdTech Hub as we scan the horizon and champion innovative ideas for what is possible in education.”

Verna officially joins EdTech Hub on July 25.