In Conversation
Denise Chedville for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Denise Chedville: There is no age at which you have to stop becoming. Something new.
What does being an Influential Woman mean to you?
Denise Chedville: Hello I am Denise Chetville, and I believe to be an influential woman you never stop growing. At this stage of my life and career I am still learning, earning certifications, exploring artificial intelligence, writing, researching, and asking myself what I can do next. I hope my influence comes not simply from what I've accomplished, but from showing other women that there is no age at which you have to stop becoming something new.
What's one piece of advice you would give to younger women chasing their dreams?
Denise Chedville: Be to know that there's going to be times when you are overlooked, underestimated, and disappointed or told directly or indirectly that an opportunity is not for you. Keep learning anyway. Keep building your skills. Keep showing up. Keep preparing yourself so that when the right door opens, you're ready to walk through it. Most importantly, don't measure your success only by titles, salaries, or recognition. Ask yourself whether you are doing the work that matters, whether you are continuing to grow, and whether you are leaving things a little better for the people coming behind you. I think one of the most powerful things a woman can decide to say is I'm not finished yet.
Her Story
About Denise
Denise Chedville is an education leader with 35 years of experience in science education, assessment, and curriculum development, currently serving as K-12 Assessment Coordinator at Castleberry ISD in Granbury, Texas. Over the course of her career, she has held responsibility for advanced academics, gifted and talented identification, instructional materials, drug-free schools programming, and college-and-career initiatives, building on earlier work as the district's Science Director. She holds three master's degrees from Texas A&M University, spanning educational administration, science, and STEM and mathematics, and has continued expanding her expertise into emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, earning certifications in Generative AI and Python coding through the Texas McCombs School of Business and in AI on Cloud through the University of Texas at Austin.
Throughout her career, Chedville has been recognized for her contributions to science education leadership, receiving the State of Texas Science Administrator of the Year Award in 2011 and the Rachel Carson Award for Women in Math and Science in 2006. She was also named a Michael E. DeBakey Scholar for her work in biomedical engineering at Texas A&M and has been honored by the Texas Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science Teaching, among numerous other regional and national distinctions. Her leadership extends beyond the classroom into professional service, having served as President of the Texas Council for Elementary Science and as an active member of the Science Teachers Association of Texas and the National Science Teachers Association. Earlier in her career, she played a key curriculum role in launching the Martha and Josh Morris Mathematics and Engineering Elementary School, a program that went on to earn national recognition.
Beyond her formal roles, Chedville is deeply committed to mentorship and expanding opportunity for underserved students, organizing a gifted and talented camp for 4th and 5th graders in a high-poverty community and guiding students toward acceptance at institutions such as MIT and Amherst. She is also a published author, having written a historical novel set along the Big Cypress Bayou in East Texas, with a second book currently in progress. Outside of her professional work, she maintains a strong interest in history, natural history, and artificial intelligence, weaving these passions into both her writing and her ongoing consulting work in STEM education across Texas school districts.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Denise
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a deep love of learning, persistence, and the guidance of strong mentors throughout my 35-year career in education. Earning three master's degrees from Texas A&M University helped shape my path, as has the opportunity to grow into a role where I oversee assessment, advanced academics, and several other areas within my district. I'm also currently working on my second book, having already completed my first.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received came from my mentor, Dr. David Allard, who encouraged me to continue my education and supported me through a biology grant that covered both coursework and childcare costs. Beyond that specific support, I've carried forward the lesson from professors and mentors who consistently pushed me to keep moving forward and always ask, "What am I doing next?"
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women entering this field to work hard and surround themselves with persistent mentors and teachers who will push them to excel, even when they resist it at first. Continue to evolve and never stop learning — pursue growth, take on new challenges, and use what you gain to help others along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is navigating the demands of state assessment requirements in Texas while making sure the needs of students in high-poverty settings are truly met. At the same time, I see real opportunity in the growing role of AI and technology in education, along with the philanthropic efforts that can help scale that impact for more students.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Lifelong learning, mentorship, and service to students are the values that matter most to me, both professionally and personally. I take great pride in my experience as the curriculum lead for the Martha and Josh Morris Mathematics and Engineering Elementary School, which opened in 2007 and earned national recognition, as well as my involvement with organizations like the Texas Council for Elementary Science, the Science Teachers Association of Texas, and the National Science Teachers Association. I'm equally passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented learners, which is why I organized a camp for gifted 4th and 5th grade students in a high-poverty area and have mentored students who went on to attend MIT and Amherst. Outside of work, I enjoy studying history, natural history, and artificial intelligence, and I write books about my family and East Texas riverboats.
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