Danna Dotson is the Associate Director of Teacher Training, supporting teachers in their computer science professional learning and development. She holds degrees in mathematics teaching and education from DePaul University. Danna taught for twenty-seven years in Chicago Public Schools, where she led multiple math departments and developed computer science departments and academic center programs at two of Chicago’s selective enrollment high schools. Before joining DPI, she was the Teacher Educator Coordinator at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. Danna has shared her expertise at numerous conferences, including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and Teachers Teaching with Technology Conferences. She has also contributed to teacher professional development through the Golden Apple Foundation, DePaul University’s Leading with Algebra Project, the Illinois State Board of Education Gifted Education Seminar, and as an Assessor for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Inspired by Seymour Papert, Danna believes the role of a teacher is to create conditions for invention rather than provide ready-made knowledge, and her work at DPI aims to build those conditions throughout Illinois.
Danna Dotson
