Office of Strategic Initiatives

The Office of Strategic Initiatives leads the agency’s cross-cutting work to plan, implement, and evaluate high-priority initiatives that advance DPI’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. This office plays a central role in aligning agency efforts, supporting innovation, and ensuring that DPI’s programs and policies are responsive to the needs of Wisconsin’s students, educators, and communities. 

Serving as a bridge across divisions, the Office of Strategic Initiatives coordinates internal planning and performance systems while advancing DPI’s priorities of Educator Recruitment and Retention, Innovative Education, Learner and Educator Mental Health and the Modernization and Improvement of DPI. The office provides leadership and structure to DPI’s long-term strategic planning efforts and helps translate ideas into action by supporting evidence-based decision-making and implementation. 

Key responsibilities include:  

• Strategic Planning and Alignment: Lead the development and monitoring of DPI’s agency-wide strategic plan, ensuring alignment across divisions and programs. 
• Cross-Agency Coordination: Facilitate collaboration to advance complex initiatives that require multi-team cooperation. 
• Data-Informed Decision-Making: Support the use of research, data, and evaluation to guide program development, policy, and resource allocation. 
• Project Management and Implementation: Provide project management leadership for high-impact agency initiatives, including setting timelines, tracking progress, and identifying challenges and opportunities. 
• Innovation and Systems Improvement: Promote innovative practices, systems change, and continuous improvement to modernize how the agency delivers services and supports schools and libraries. 
• Performance Monitoring: Track key performance indicators and report on progress toward agency goals, ensuring transparency and accountability.