Sofia McDaniel

Sofia McDaniel has led transformative work in the Office of Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education. She redesigned the state’s public charter school application process and oversees the lab school initiative, collaborating with higher education institutes, K–12 divisions, and industry partners. Recognized for her leadership and policy contributions, Sofia brings strategic vision, cross-sector collaboration, and deep policy expertise to designing scalable, student-centered solutions.

Sofia is an alumna of the Education Reformers Academy and also serves on the Richmond Advisory Board for Best Buddies. Sofia is committed to modernizing education systems and expanding innovative school models that improve outcomes for all learners. Sofia has her Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University and Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University.