Kenneth McKee
Asheville,NC
Summary
Dynamic Professional with a proven track record in cross-functional leadership, market analysis, and design. Successfully crafted product roadmaps that drove strategic initiatives and enhanced customer experiences. Passionate about professional learning coaching, and effective communication, I thrive on delivering innovative solutions that delight customers and expand market share.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Content Product Manager
Newsela
New York, New York
11.2025 - Current
- Analyzed market trends to shape product strategy and prioritize key development initiatives.
- Crafted product roadmaps that outlined strategic direction and prioritized essential initiatives.
- Identified product gaps, generating innovative ideas to expand market share and enhance customer experience.
- Led cross-functional teams to clarify product vision and streamline workflows
- Collaborated with marketing teams to enhance product positioning and messaging strategies.
- Partnered with engineering teams to ensure accurate understanding and implementation of feature specifications.
Mid-Market Customer Success Manager
Newsela
New York, NY
08.2023 - 10.2024
- Managed a portfolio of $2.5 million ARR across 50-75 customer accounts
- Reached over 100% of NRR target
- Exceeded product expansion and growth goals - resulting in nearly 20% in new subscriptions
- Collaborated with district and school leaders to enhance onboarding and implementation of Newsela and Formative products, ensuring customer value.
- Developed framework for professional learning plans and customized workshops to address specific needs of schools.
Professional Learning Designer & Consultant
NWEA
Portland, OR
01.2023 - 07.2023
- Delivered high-quality professional learning sessions aligned with customer goals, ensuring effective implementation of instructional coaching strategies.
- Developed and facilitated sessions to train consultants for instructional coaching certification, enhancing their coaching capabilities.
- Designed and implemented partner-facing instructional coaching and peer coaching professional learning programs, strengthening partner relationships.
- Designed content for instructional coaching assets, including the Instructional Coaching Field Guide, the NWEA Protocol Guide, and other internal learning resources.
- Wrote high-traffic blog posts (regularly in the top 25 monthly posts of all posts on platform) and articles to market instructional coaching services.
- Collaborated with the Instructional Coaching Coordinator to support instructional program design and evaluation
Curriculum Design Team Manager
Resonance Educational Consulting
Philadelphia, PA
07.2022 - 06.2023
- Led team of curriculum designers to develop K-6 English language arts curriculum that enhances student engagement.
- Revised curriculum framework to prioritize knowledge building and integrate culturally responsive texts, fostering inclusivity.
- (contracted service)
Social Media and Professional Learning Consultant
Student Achievement Partners
New York, NY
09.2018 - 04.2023
- Designed and facilitated online professional learning that enhanced educators' understanding of the Three Literacy Shifts and the science of learning.
- Created engaging informational materials for teachers and training materials that equipped social media consultants with effective resources.
- Contributed to content strategy for social media communications, strengthening Achieve the Core brand's online presence.
- Created posts and 'shareable' graphics for promoting content, resources, and publications on social media.
- Wrote high-traffic blog posts relevant to instructional coaching and literacy instruction topics.
- (contracted service)
Content Designer
NWEA
Portland, OR
08.2021 - 12.2022
- Led content design for NWEA's technical assistance on Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Washington Bridge Portfolio contracts, enhancing program effectiveness.
- Developed innovative, trauma-informed, culturally responsive-sustaining K-12 Social Emotional Learning Framework, addressing diverse student needs.
- Designed family and community engagement (FACE) assessments and tailored professional learning sessions to align with assessment findings.
- Conducted research through interviews, surveys, and focus groups to ensure asset designs met goals for culturally responsive-sustaining learning.
Literacy and Instructional Coach
Buncombe County Schools
Asheville, NC
03.2010 - 06.2021
- Trained school leaders on calibration and implementation of instructional frameworks and observation tools to support data gathering and analysis, instructional feedback and goal setting.
- Coached school leaders and educators in analyzing large-scale and small-scale data to enhance instructional practices and programs.
- Implemented coaching cycles with teachers determined by student needs and professional goals.
- Designed and delivered in-person and online professional learning to improve educator effectiveness.
- Designed, organized and facilitated public teaching structures: learning walks, instructional rounds and peer coaching.
- Facilitated meetings of Literacy Leadership Teams to promote effective reading strategies.
- Led district staff and coaches in developing a reading instructional playbook to support a systematic approach to reading assessment and instruction.
- Chosen as one of 45 Emerging Leaders by the educational leadership organization ASCD.
- Chosen to conduct action research and develop professional learning related to multilingual learners' academic language.
Teaching Instructor
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
01.2018 - 12.2020
- Guided undergraduate students aspiring to be secondary-level teachers in mastering literacy instructional practices.
- Delivered curriculum in digital formats using Blackboard and Canvas while integrating digital tools and apps to enhance writing and project development.
- Assessed student learning both formatively and summatively.
- Supported students in developing instructional strategies, tracking assignment progress, and achieving career goals.
Education
Masters of Education - Reading
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC12.2013
Bachelors of Science - English Education
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC05.2001
Skills
- Product roadmap
- Market analysis
- Content development
- Curriculum design
- Customer relationship management
- Learning design
- Cross-functional leadership
- Professional learning design
- Subject matter expertise
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Coaching
Certification
- National Board Certified Teacher (Early Adolescence), National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
- Reading Specialist (K-12), English Language Arts, (6-9), and English (9-12) North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
- Literacy Design Collaborative Coach, Southern Regional Education Board
- MEDDPICC Sales Methodology & Qualification certification
Awards
- NWEA Achieve Award, 2023
- ELASCD President, 2022
- ELASCD Outstanding Publication in Education Award, 2020
- Paideia National Faculty, 2018
- ASCD Emerging Leader, 2014
- NC Governor's Teachers Network, 2014
Publications
- Compassionate Coaching: How to Help Educators Navigate Barriers to Professional Growth - ASCD
- "The importance of instructional coaching, now and in the future" - NWEA, Teach. Learn. Grow.
- "7 steps to empowered data coaching" - NWEA, Teach. Learn. Grow.
Timeline
Content Product Manager
Newsela
11.2025 - Current
Mid-Market Customer Success Manager
Newsela
08.2023 - 10.2024
Professional Learning Designer & Consultant
NWEA
01.2023 - 07.2023
Curriculum Design Team Manager
Resonance Educational Consulting
07.2022 - 06.2023
Content Designer
NWEA
08.2021 - 12.2022
Social Media and Professional Learning Consultant
Student Achievement Partners
09.2018 - 04.2023
Teaching Instructor
East Carolina University
01.2018 - 12.2020
Literacy and Instructional Coach
Buncombe County Schools
03.2010 - 06.2021
Masters of Education - Reading
East Carolina University
Bachelors of Science - English Education
Appalachian State University