Denise Cotton

Managing Director of Instructional Programming

The Center for Black Educator Development

Denise served as a classroom teacher for a number of years before beginning her journey into non-profit leadership. In 2014, Denise joined Good Shepherd Services as the Program Director for Brooklyn Lifelink, a college access and retention program. From there she oversaw a Mentoring Program in Partnership with Ernst and Young and the District Attorney's office, a Transitions to High School program, and after-school/internship programming for Bronx Bridges HS.  In 2018, she became the Director of Programs at Behind the Book leading culturally responsive, multidisciplinary literacy programs in K-12 Title 1 NYC public schools. In 2022, she transitioned to the Center for Black Educator Development as the Managing Director of Instructional Programming working to rebuild the Black Teacher Pipeline. Denise holds a Bachelor of Arts from The New School and is a graduate of Stanford University where she has a MA in Elementary Education.