University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education, Executive Director

Following a nationwide search, the University of Virginia has appointed Dr. Beth Schiavino‑Narvaez as executive director of the nationally recognized UVA Partnership for Leaders in Education (UVA‑PLE). She will begin her tenure on May 1, 2026.

Dr. Schiavino‑Narvaez brings more than 30 years of experience in public education and system leadership. Most recently, she served as director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), where she led a global system of 161 schools across 11 countries. Under her leadership, DoDEA became the highest‑performing school system in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

A joint venture of the UVA Darden School of Business and the School of Education and Human Development, UVA‑PLE is widely regarded as a national model for combining leadership development and educational strategy to drive system‑level improvement. Over more than two decades, the program has partnered with more than 200 school districts and 950 schools across 35 states, supporting systems that serve over 3.5 million students. Peer‑reviewed research demonstrates the program’s impact, with half of recent partner districts achieving double‑digit gains in math or language arts within three years—significantly outpacing national trends.

As executive director, Dr. Schiavino‑Narvaez will build on UVA‑PLE’s strong foundation and work closely with UVA faculty, practitioners, and district leaders nationwide to further strengthen leadership capacity and improve system, school, and student performance.

Dr. Schiavino‑Narvaez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Pennsylvania State University. She completed her graduate studies at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education where she earned a master’s degree in School Leadership, a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management, and a doctorate from the Urban Superintendents Program.

Read the full press release here.

Katie Rockman led this search with Berkley Braden, Janette Martinez, and Maria Connor.