The organization is separated into two divisions, elementary education and secondary education. Elementary education oversees the curriculum and instruction operation for all elementary schools while the secondary education department oversees the curriculum and instruction for both middle and high school programs.

Elementary Curriculum and Instruction
Secondary Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Virginia Cotten has more than 30 years of experience in the field of education. She began her career in McKinney ISD as a reading teacher in 1975 before moving to the Richardson ISD in 1979 where she taught English and reading at J.J. Pearce High School for 16 years. In 1995 she was named the director of instructional initiatives before becoming the coordinating director of teacher leadership in 1997. She became the district’s executive director of elementary and secondary curriculum and instruction in 1999.

Dr. Cotten earned her bachelor’s degree in English, her master’s degree in education, her mid-management certification and a doctoral of education degree from the University of North Texas in Denton. Her doctoral major was in curriculum and instruction.