Dan Cogan-Drew

Dan brings twenty-plus years of professional experience spent working towards a more perfect union of teaching, learning and technology.

Most recently, Dan was the founding Director of Digital Learning at Achievement First Public Charter Schools, where he spearheaded the integration of digital learning technologies across twenty-two schools, including flipped classrooms, mobile learning, and 1:1 computing. He was also a founding member of the Gates Foundation Next Generation Community of Practice, traveling the country to visit sites of innovation and reviewing dozens of software products across K–12 math and literacy.

Prior to this, Dan was Director of Programs at the Connecticut Career Choices Program, where he developed blended high school STEM programs and co-authored one of the highest rated applications to the Race to the Top I3 grant program. Before that he taught and developed federally funded professional development programs in the Graduate Department of Education at Tufts University. Dan also rode the dot-com boom as a content producer at Fact City, a search engine startup.

He began his education career in Teach for America in Wrightsville, GA, and went on to teach in public and private schools, as well as in the US Navy. He holds a B.A. in English and Spanish from Wesleyan University, an M.A. in English Literature from Brown University, and an M.A. in Educational Studies from Tufts University.

Dan is a longtime youth and college coach and two-time world champion ultimate Frisbee player (1999 and 2000) with the legendary Boston club team Death or Glory. He and his wife are raising two Newsela readers in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Dan Cogan-Drew is the Co-Founder & Chief Academic Officer at Newsela, based in New York, New York, United States, North America. With a background in Education, Dan Cogan-Drew has a rich history of leadership and innovation.Dan Cogan-Drew studied MA English at Brown University. Explore their detailed professional journey, key connections, and contributions to the industry on our platform.