Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney is the Chief Officer of Instruction and Innovation in Vance County Schools. She began her educational career in 2008 at Northern Vance High School as a math teacher. She has continued her journey with the district as the Assistant Principal at STEM Early High School, Secondary Math Curriculum Specialist, Instructional Technology Facilitator and Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Professional Learning. In working with adult learners, she recognizes the importance of modeling and then monitoring best practices to ensure that research-based theories transfer into practical actions in schools and classrooms. Ross-Putney was instrumental in the creation of the district’s first STEM middle school, designing and implementing an early high school model that was one-of-its-kind on the national level.