Debbie Durrence, Ed.D., is the Principal Consultant and Owner of DataTrustK12, LLC. A seasoned K12 senior leader with nearly three decades of district experience, Dr. Durrence spent her public education career leading data innovation in one of metro Atlanta’s largest school systems. Her tenure includes serving as Chief Data Officer, Executive Director of Data Governance, Interim Chief Accountability Officer, and Executive Director of Accountability and Assessment.

As an industry thought leader and strategist, Dr. Durrence empowers K12 organizations to harness the full potential of their data ecosystems. She brings deep expertise across K12 AI governance, data interoperability via EdTech standards, modern data platform integrations, third-party privacy protocols, and strategic program implementation.

During her district leadership, Dr. Durrence directed cross-functional teams in student data management, data engineering, state/federal compliance, privacy, and systemic data integration. Earlier in her career, she spearheaded districtwide assessment platforms and pioneered comprehensive staff development in data and assessment literacy. She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia, centering her research on technology training efficacy in K12 environments.

A speaker and advocate for educational innovation, Dr. Durrence frequently presents at national forums, including 1EdTech, the Ed-Fi Alliance, the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), and the American Educational Research Association (AERA). She has served on the Board of Directors for 1EdTech and NCME, as well as the Qualtrics K-12 Advisory Board. Today, she contributes her insight to the University of Georgia’s Applied Data Science Master's Program Advisory Board and the Steering Committee for the National Council of Innovative Technology Leaders (ERDI).