Dr. Laurel Ballard is the Innovations Officer at the Wyoming Department of Education, where she collaborates with diverse partners to enhance K-12 education. She specializes in teacher and leader quality and leads statewide initiatives, contributing to evidence-based education reform. Dr. Ballard leads teacher quality programs, including the Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship and competency-based professional learning. Prior to assuming her role as Innovation Officer, Laurel served for eight years as the State Director of Digital Learning and Innovation. Additional roles included Chief Information Officer, Supervisor of Accountability, and District and School Improvement Technical Assistance Consultant. Dr. Ballard, an honors graduate in Economics, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming, where she earned recognition for her teaching contributions.