Silver Spring, MD. – Discovery Education—the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place—today announced new leadership for the company’s award-winning Social Impact Team. Amy Nakamoto has been promoted to General Manager of Social Impact and Jackie Smalls has been named Vice President of Social Impact Coalitions.
Nakamoto’s diverse career in social impact began as the Executive Director at DC SCORES and America SCORES, an after-school nonprofit focused on physical fitness, creative-writing and community building. Following stints at St. Andrew’s School as the Associate Director of Advancement and the Meyer Foundation as a Program Officer, Nakamoto joined Discovery Education in 2017.
At Discovery Education, Nakamoto has elevated the role of multi-sector partnership development to specifically focus on the K-12 landscape. She leads the company’s social impact strategy, connecting corporate and community partners to K-12 school classrooms via real-world content, large-scale critical issue coalitions, and direct partnerships with school districts.
“I am honored to lead the talented Social Impact Team at Discovery Education,” said Nakamoto. “For the last 5 years, I’ve worked closely with a tremendous team of professionals and leaders to create equitable, engaging learning experiences for educators and students worldwide. I look forward to continuing this work and to building even more strategic partnerships with global brands and like-minded organizations who share our vision of building a diverse workforce prepared for future success.”
Jackie Smalls, a national education leader specializing in STEM K-12 education, is returning to Discovery Education as the Vice President of Social Impact Coalitions. In this new role, Smalls will be responsible for strategic growth and impact of multi-sector partnerships on critical issues in K-12 education. Currently, this includes the STEM Careers Coalition™—the first-of-its-kind national STEM initiative powered by corporate and non-profit leaders and anchored in schools by Discovery Education—and the Social-Emotional Learning Coalition, a network of partners committed to bringing critical, culturally relevant social-emotional learning resources into core instruction to support educators and students nationwide.
Prior to her return to Discovery Education, Smalls served as Chief Program Officer at Code.org focused on K-12 Computer Science Education. Jackie will continue to serve on Code.org’s Board of Directors. Before Code.org, Smalls was the Director of Professional Learning and Education Partnerships at Discovery Education and was responsible for partnering with various school districts for the implementation of K-12 digital resources across content areas and STEM. Smalls held various roles in public education in both the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County Public Schools, served on the team responsible for developing Next Generation Science Standards, and was an environmental scientist in the United States Army.
“Throughout my career, I’ve centered STEM education as my cornerstone. In this new role leading Discovery Education’s Coalitions, I look forward to applying my deep industry knowledge to help create opportunities in classrooms that are reflective of today’s diverse world,” said Smalls.
For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
- Edtech leaders see expanding roles as concerns over AI and cybersecurity increase - May 13, 2025
- Kenneth C. Griffin Donates $2 Million to Nonprofit Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program to Strengthen South Florida’s Teacher Pipeline - May 8, 2025
- Ignite Reading Partners with UF Lastinger Center’s Florida Tutoring Advantage - May 7, 2025