Danny McKinney

Proven educational leader with more than 25 years of experience aligning technology, artificial intelligence, organizational learning, data, adult learning theory, instructional best practices, and leadership strategy in complex, highly regulated environments. Trusted advisor and consultant to senior leaders with a record of designing enterprise-wide capability systems, governing digital learning platforms, modernizing workflows, and translating emerging technologies into ethical, scalable, human-centered solutions. Brings a distinctive combination of executive consultation, change leadership, instructional design, analytics, platform governance, and cross-functional program delivery.

Professional Development & Local Systems Integration Specialist / State Education Liaison - Anne Arundel County Public Schools - Annapolis, Maryland, USA

(2022-11)

Strategic leadership role supporting enterprise professional learning systems, AI adoption, leadership development, course governance, data assurance, reporting, and cross-platform implementation for one of Maryland's largest public education systems.

• AI strategy and adoption: Design and facilitate system-wide learning for responsible generative AI use; evaluate Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini Notebook for organizational and professional applications.
• Senior leadership partnership: Advise executive and divisional leaders on emerging technology, professional learning strategy, operational implementation, and opportunities for AI-enabled service improvement.
• Platform governance: Administer course, section, enrollment, completion, credit, and transcript structures across enterprise learning platforms; establish standards that improve data consistency, reporting, and user experience.
• Transformation delivery: Lead professional learning and technological literacy/proficiency to support digital workflows across diverse employee groups.
• Quality and compliance: Serve as final reviewer for professional learning course proposals and audit participation, completion, credit-award, and transcript records to strengthen integrity and regulatory alignment.
• Portfolio and partnership leadership: Design and manage major system-wide programs spanning leadership development, mandated learning, multilingual access, conferences, and microcredentials; coordinate universities, public agencies, professional organizations, experts, and internal divisions in productive partnerships.
• Analytics and communication: Produce executive-ready program evaluations, completion reports, special analyses, impact summaries, dashboards, websites, and decision-support communications.

Curriculum Design & Instructional Specialist - Anne Arundel County Public Schools - Annapolis, Maryland, USA

(2019-08 - 2022-11)

• Digital learning leadership: Designed and delivered STEM curricula and professional learning across in-person, hybrid, virtual, and asynchronous environments.
• Technology integration: Evaluated learning platforms, digital and text resources, and instructional technologies for quality, accessibility, standards alignment, and learner impact.
• Virtual instruction program development: Supported virtual academy science programming and advanced evidence-informed approaches to online instruction, engagement, and assessment.

Program Designer and Development Facilitator - University of California Riverside | Department of Modern Physics - Riverside, California, USA

(2017 - 2019)

• Research-to-practice leadership: Partnered with university faculty and researchers to translate contemporary physics into professional academies, instructional resources, surveys, and program-improvement reports.
• Professional Learning and Development: Designed and delivered research-based lab experiences, conceptual learning, and classroom activities for secondary physics teachers across Southern California.

STEM Curriculum, Instructional & Program Leadership - Public and Independent Education Systems - Alabama, Georgia, and California, USA

(2001-08 - 2019-06)

• Program innovation: Designed multidisciplinary STEM curricula for in-person, hybrid, and distance-learning models; facilitated organization-wide professional learning and secured external funding for STEM initiatives.
• Progressive leadership: Served as educator, instructional mentor, support specialist, curriculum leader, grant recipient, and program sponsor; recognized as Santa Rosa Academy Teacher of the Year.

Doctor of Education - Teacher Leadership - Walden University (2014)

Postgraduate Administrative Certification - McDaniel College (2022)

Master of Education - Secondary Science Education - Auburn University (2001)

Bachelor of Science - Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture - Auburn University (1997)