Dr. Colucci is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Dr. Colucci brings 24 years of public education experience, including 15 years of P-12 school leadership experience. She has served as a teacher, reading interventionist, literacy coordinator, principal, and several central office leadership roles across educational settings. Most recently, she served as Chief Academic Officer in a large school system, serving more than 60,000 students, where she provided strategic leadership for curriculum and instruction, instructional coaching, special education, gifted education, instructional technology, career and technical education, dual enrollment and advanced placement, academies, PreK, federal programs, and student support services, including behavioral intervention. Previously, she supervised and supported principals as Senior Executive Director of Elementary Schools, and she has also served as Elementary Executive Director of Teaching and Learning.
Education
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech Aspiring Superintendents Program Certificate from Virginia Tech
M.S. in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University
B.S. in Elementary Education from Northwest Missouri State University
Research
Dr. Colucci’s research agenda focuses on instructional coaching, leadership coaching, and professional learning to support the development of educators and school leaders. Areas of study include instructional coaching in instructional technology, reading, and mathematics; coaching for principals and aspiring principals; leadership self-efficacy; and professional learning for educators. This work examines how coaching and professional learning can strengthen leadership practices and educator self-efficacy while supporting continuous professional growth and improved outcomes for educators and students.
Courses Taught
ELPA 7812 Qualitative Research ELPA 7814 Advanced Qualitative Research
ELPA 5200/6200 Emerging Perspectives
ELPA 6010 Leadership for Lifelong Learning
ELPA 5600/6600 Shaping the Quality and Character of the Institution
ELPA 7960 Doctoral Dissertation
Virginia Tech 6014 Administration of Instructional Programs and Support Services
Virginia Tech 6914 Problems in Edu (OTRII)
Selected Presentations
Colucci, D. & Brinkmann, J. (February 2025). A Case Study of the Extent Coaching Increases the Instructional Leadership Self-Efficacy of Aspiring and Early Career Principals. Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference. Hilton Head.
Colucci, D. (September 2025). A Case Study of the Extent Coaching Increases the Instructional Leadership Self-Efficacy of Aspiring and Early Career Principals. Virginia Association of Educational Research. Richmond.
Colucci, D. & Brinkmann, J. (October 2025). A Case Study of the Extent Coaching Increases the Instructional Leadership Self-Efficacy of Aspiring and Early Career Principals. International Society of Educational Planning. Buffalo.
Colucci, D. & Brinkmann, J. (January 2026). Exploring Experienced Principals’ Perceptions of Well-Being and Self-Efficacy While Serving as Mentors in an Early Career And Aspiring Principals’ (ECAP) Program. Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference. Clearwater.
Colucci, D. & Brinkmann (November 2026). To what extent did serving in a coaching or mentoring role as part of an Early Career and Aspiring Principal Program increase the self-efficacy and well-being of experienced principals? MSERA. Hunstville.
Publications
Colucci, D. E., & Brinkmann, J. L. (2026). Aspiring and early career principals’ perceptions of one-on-one coaching and its relationship to instructional leadership self-efficacy: A Virginia, U.S., case study. Educational Planning, 33(3), 87–107.