Relay Graduate School of Education Announces  Darren Reed As Its First Chief Growth Officer

Relay Graduate School of Education announced Darren Reed as Relay’s first Chief Growth Officer. He officially joined Relay on Monday, March 31.   

With over 5,000 residents, teachers, and school leaders, and nearly 15,000 alumni, Relay reaches an estimated 1.9 million PK-12 students in district and charter schools across the nation, ensuring more children have access to high-quality teachers, curriculum, and learning experiences. Darren joins Relay at a transformative moment, bringing with him a proven track record of growing organizations in the education sector while helping educators reach their full potential. In his upcoming role as Chief Growth Officer, Darren will lead sales, partnerships, and marketing for Relay.  

“Educators, whether they are teachers or leaders, have a profound impact on students. Their work sends ripples across time, inspires the next generation, and can open the doors to break down barriers for students,” said Darren. “Now, more than ever, we need educators and must be intentional about our support of them at every step of their professional journey. I’m thrilled to join Relay in providing the foundation and ongoing development needed to ensure all students are taught by outstanding educators.”  

Darren brings extensive experience scaling education and edtech companies and leading product innovation.  In his previous role, Darren served as the Senior Vice President at Stride, Inc., where he founded the company’s e-commerce platform serving over 25,000 educators and offering on-demand professional development. 

As SVP at Stride, Inc., Darren also managed a portfolio of 19 blended and online K-12 schools across 12 states and led innovative education reform initiatives, including the development of blended school models and leadership programs that have shaped education in underserved communities nationwide. 

A first-generation college graduate, Darren has over 30 years in education. In that time, he has served as a classroom teacher, school principal and has consulted for schools across the country, advocating for policies that expand educational access and improve outcomes for all students. Darren holds an education specialist degree in educational leadership from George Washington University, a master’s in education leadership, policy and planning from The College of William and Mary and a bachelor’s in elementary education from Hiram College in Ohio.