Denise Thorne serves as director of educational transformation at the Carnegie Foundation. As director, Denise collaborates with education innovators committed to implementing a new educational architecture that catalyzes competency-based learning at persuasive scale.

Denise brings over a decade of experience in school innovation and transformation, having played critical roles in launching and leading schools. She was part of a team to launch a secondary school, serving as a teacher, instructional coach, and school director before leading a bilingual school focused on holistic student development, where she emphasized belonging, identity formation, and strong relationships alongside academic growth. After, Denise joined Transcend where she co-developed innovative high school models and postsecondary pathways rooted in community-centered design. At Transcend, she led school transformation efforts across Texas aimed at advancing 21st-century readiness and prioritizing equitable outcomes for all learners.

Denise is passionate about advancing competency-based education, fostering collaborative ecosystems, and equipping educators with actionable tools. She holds a bachelor’s from the University of Colorado at Boulder in Spanish and Ethnic Studies. 

In her free time, Denise enjoys hiking near Boulder, Colorado, attending athletic events, and spending time with her family.