The organization also welcomes Jacqueline Younker as Deputy Chief of People and Culture, uniting operational strength and workplace culture.
Digital Promise, a global nonprofit that bridges education research, practice, and technology to expand opportunity for every learner, today announced that Drew Deutsch has joined the team as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). Deutsch stepped into the role on Oct. 13, 2026.
As VP and COO, Deutsch will lead Digital Promise’s organizational strategy, operations, finance, culture, and technology functions. Serving as a key strategic partner to the CEO, he will help guide the organization through its next phase of growth, impact, and operational excellence while ensuring internal systems directly support cross-functional teams.
His arrival coincides with another foundational addition to the team: Jacqueline (Jacquie) Younker, who joined Digital Promise on Aug. 3, 2026, as Deputy Chief of People and Culture. Together, Deutsch and Younker reinforce the operational and cultural core of Digital Promise—aligning strong systems with a collaborative team environment to help the organization deepen its impact across the education ecosystem.
“As Digital Promise continues to expand its reach and impact globally, we need an operating foundation that keeps pace with our ambitions and sharpens our ability to deliver on our core purpose: elevating every learner,” said Jean-Claude Brizard, president and CEO of Digital Promise. “Drew will be an essential strategic partner as we chart this next chapter. Having Drew and Jacquie in place strengthens the systems and culture that will carry our long-term vision forward and position us to deliver powerful learning opportunities for all.
Deutsch brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across education, education technology, and nonprofit management. Throughout his career, he has focused on connecting research and innovation with real-world implementation. Most recently, he served as Vice President and General Manager at 2U, where he oversaw complex operations encompassing strategic university partnerships, cross-functional team leadership, and financial management.
Before 2U, Deutsch served as Chief Operating Officer at City Teaching Alliance, where he led organization-wide operations, program management, technology, and communications. Earlier in his career, he served as Director for the Americas at the International Baccalaureate (IB), guiding regional expansion and managing relationships with schools, institutional partners, and education ministries. Deutsch holds a degree from Georgetown University.
Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a belief in the power of education to transform lives and expand opportunity. Digital Promise is uniquely positioned to connect research, innovation, and practice in ways that make a meaningful difference for learners. I’m excited to partner with Jean-Claude and this talented team to build on the organization’s strong foundation, strengthen how we work together, and ensure we have the people, systems, and strategies in place to deliver on our mission and expand our impact.
Drew Deutsch Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Digital Promise
Strengthening Internal Systems and Workplace Culture
Working hand-in-hand with leadership, Jacqueline Younker heads people strategy as Deputy Chief of People and Culture. In this role, she leads the organization’s human resources operations, directing talent acquisition, training and development, performance management, compensation, and succession planning to ensure staff are supported, developed, and aligned around a shared, mission-driven vision.
Younker joined Digital Promise with extensive experience leading people and culture teams across the K-12 and education nonprofit landscapes. Most recently, she served as Chief People Officer at Democracy Prep Public Schools, guiding recruitment, employee relations, total rewards, and organizational development across a multi-state network. Prior to that, as Chief Talent Officer at Breakthrough Public Schools, she helped steer the network through the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to in-person learning, redesigned compensation structures, and expanded employee mental health benefits.
Earlier in her career, Younker served as Chief People Officer for Lorain City Schools. She began her path in education as a Teach For America corps member teaching fifth grade in Cleveland before coaching educators and school leaders across Northeast Ohio.
An Atlanta native, Younker holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from The College of Wooster, studied acting at the Moscow Art Theatre School, and completed the Cambiar Education Fellowship.
