AI readiness programs for tech professionals? She’s managed over a hundred. Twelve-week certification courses for career changers? Managed and improved them. Every instructor ready on Day 1? Every time, with a smile.
Meet Anne Wright, CALIE’s new Programs Manager. With more than a decade of running learning programs in the nonprofit and EdTech worlds, Anne knows what it takes to make professional learning work. We are thrilled to have her on the team!
“Success takes a lot of work and is often a result of multiple iterations to get it right. Most times the winning formula is having the right people in place, giving them the right tools and resources, and building trust in your team to navigate the classroom challenges together.”
Anne’s path into professional learning started with arts education. Early in her career, she coordinated a K-8 collaborative community program for Studio in a School, a non-profit organization in New York City, ensuring every student in the program received visual arts classes from a practicing professional. But during her time observing classroom arts instruction she saw firsthand many of the struggles teachers face every day. She wondered how she could build better systems that provided the right support and resources teachers need to be successful.
It started with a question observing a classroom
She took that curious spirit to Harvard Graduate School of Education and focused on designing programs grounded in well-researched and time-tested practice.
She’s been at the front of a classroom guiding adult learners through customer service training in the health care industry, as well as guiding eager, sweet-toothed consumers around Boston to learn about the history and end-to-end production of chocolate.
From there, she went on to direct the education programming at Artisan’s Asylum, a nonprofit makerspace in Somerville, Massachusetts. She redesigned and improved the education department, focusing on facilitator onboarding, quality standards, and stronger partner agreements. She still serves on the Artisan’s Asylum board, where she chairs the Education Committee.
Most recently, Anne managed a portfolio of cohort-based programs and corporate professional development tracks in AI literacy, software engineering, business and design, and data for many Fortune 500 clients. Managing over 100 concurrent engagements each year, in remote environments, meant implementing clear strategies, defining high standards, and ensuring ongoing coaching for every instructor. Success takes a lot of work and is often a result of multiple iterations to get it right. Most times the winning formula is having the right people in place, giving them the right tools and resources, and building trust in your team to navigate the classroom challenges together.
Anne lives in Pittsburgh with her dog, Waffles, who has memorized which local shop owners keep treats behind the counter and pulls her inside accordingly. And while she loves hiking with her dog, the outdoors is meant to be something to enjoy for a few hours and not overnight in a tent. She is not, and never will be, a camper. She and Waffles both enjoy a nice cozy bed and AC.
Anne has spent her career making sure every class, cohort, and session is worth showing up for. California educators are about to get the benefit of that.
Help us welcome Anne Wright to CALIE! Connect with her on LinkedIn, and if you’ll be at an upcoming CALIE event, stop by and say hello.