OverDrive Expands Leadership Team with Education Advocate and EdTech Leader
Renee Davenport is the company’s first Vice President of Education and will shape the future of student reading
CLEVELAND, OH – April 16, 2025 – OverDrive, the world’s leading digital content provider for libraries and schools, announced the appointment of Renee Davenport as its first Vice President of Education. Davenport will lead OverDrive’s strategy to expand digital access in schools, deepen engagement with educators, and support literacy and learning outcomes for all students through Sora, OverDrive’s award-winning student reading app.
Davenport holds a deep belief in the transformative power of reading and a personal mission to ensure students have the opportunity to succeed. Drawing from her experience in both the classroom and the EdTech industry, she is passionate about removing barriers to access and helping schools adopt scalable, sustainable digital solutions. She will drive further adoption and engagement of Sora, a vital tool for K-12 reading and learning.
“Renee’s passion for literacy, equity, and empowering educators aligns deeply with our mission,” says Lori Franklin, Chief Operating Officer at OverDrive, a Certified B Corporation. “Her unique perspective as a former teacher and EdTech leader will help OverDrive drive the transformation to digital reading to enhance literacy outcomes while expanding access to high-quality content for every student.”
Prior to joining OverDrive, Davenport served as Vice President and General Manager of Education Partnerships at Learning Ally, where she refined go-to-market strategies and helped grow district-level partnerships. She has held leadership roles at Age of Learning, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and McGraw-Hill Education, where she led initiatives to connect educators with impactful literacy solutions. She began her career as an elementary school teacher, instructing first, third, fifth, and sixth grade students across multiple states. In her new role, she will apply this experience to expand the reach and effectiveness of Sora in classrooms worldwide.
“OverDrive’s mission and values resonate deeply with my own,” says Davenport. “As a former teacher and lifelong advocate for equitable education, I believe literacy is a right—not a privilege. I’m excited to join a company that not only shares that belief but is uniquely positioned to ensure that all students have access to the books and resources they need to succeed through powerful platforms like Sora.”
Davenport will work closely with schools, district leaders, and the broader education community to build solutions that meet the evolving needs of educators and students. Her vision includes deepening classroom engagement, solutions to support parents and caregivers, and expanding OverDrive’s role as a trusted partner in solving the literacy crisis.
“My dream is that every student has the ability to read and make their own informed decisions,” adds Davenport. “When students can read and comprehend, they can do anything. Our responsibility is to give them the tools to get there, and I’m proud to be doing that work at OverDrive.”
For more information about the Sora student reading app, visit www.discoversora.com.
About OverDrive
OverDrive is a mission-based company that supports libraries and schools. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 87,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries with the largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. OverDrive’s commitment to empower every library and school includes expanding access for all, industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, the Kanopy video streaming app, and TeachingBooks, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. www.overdrive.com
Contact:
Madison Stoneburner
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The American Consortium for Equity in Education, publisher of the "Equity & Access" journal, celebrates and connects the educators, associations, community partners and industry leaders who are working to solve problems and create a more equitable environment for historically underserved pre K-12 students throughout the United States.
- American Consortium for Equity in Educationhttps://ace-ed.org/author/admin/
- American Consortium for Equity in Educationhttps://ace-ed.org/author/admin/
- American Consortium for Equity in Educationhttps://ace-ed.org/author/admin/
- American Consortium for Equity in Educationhttps://ace-ed.org/author/admin/
