Deirdre Edwards
Riverside County Office of Education
Administrator - Center for Teacher Innovation
Deirdre Edwards’ vast educational and leadership experience has led to innovation and transformative partnerships in her role as administrator for the Center for Teacher Innovation, at Riverside County Office of Education. Her commitment to the professional growth and development of new and veteran teachers has made her a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, and coach within the field of education.
Her enthusiasm for supporting teachers and others in maximizing their potential has resulted in obtaining her ICF (International Coaches Federation) professional coaching credential which has elevated both personal and professional coaching engagements. Deirdre believes that coaching conversations should be transformational, not transactional and everyone can learn coaching skills, and everyone can use a coach! Hence, her passion and leadership has resulted in the launching of the county’s first coaching academy, Academy for Coaching Excellence. ACE’s mission is to elevate and hone the coaching skills of educators who support classroom teachers in their pursuit of high impact teaching practices that positively affect student opportunities and outcomes. She’s also taken leadership for design, development and orchestration of other high impact professional development such as Listening. Learning. Leading. Student Voice and Perspectives, Transforming Ourselves through Equity Conversations (everything begins with a conversation), Coaching for Equity Book study, and John Maxwell Leadership Development, to name a few.
Upon graduation from Michigan State University, Deirdre’s professional career began with the Detroit Public Schools, as an elementary school teacher. She later pursued her master’s degree in Teaching High School Mathematics from the University of Detroit and went on to teach high school math in Wilmington, DE and Indio, CA. She earned her second M.A. in educational administration from California State University, San Bernardino. Once COVID has become a distant memory, Deirdre is eager to get back to spending time with family across the US, traveling, and dining. Deirdre is married to Dr. Albert Edwards, III and together they have three thriving adult college educated children and two wonderful grandchildren.
