Village Virtual Leadership

Dr. Heather Fisher, CEO

Dr. Heather Fisher brings 30 years of education experience to her role as CEO of Village Virtual, most recently as founding principal of the Germantown Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) in Tennessee. A Harvard Project Zero Fellow, she went on to co-found Project Zero–Memphis, expanding professional learning opportunities for educators across the region. Her background also includes serving as Assistant Principal at Dogwood Elementary School and as a Master Teacher for Shelby County Schools, where she designed professional development programs and coached educators to strengthen instructional practice. A former president of the Shelby County Education Association, representing more than 8,000 educators, Dr. Fisher was named Shelby County Teacher of the Year in 2013 and currently chairs the Education Commission.

Debi Crabtree, Founder

Debi Crabtree founded Village Virtual in 2012, drawing on her experience as a middle and high school teacher and her early work coordinating a virtual summer program for Hamilton County schools. Over more than a decade, she built the organization into a trusted partner for districts across the Southeast, growing it to serve more than 245 schools with a catalog of 250+ courses. She has represented the field nationally, chairing the iNACOL Southeastern Regional Committee, and has mentored students through programs like tnAchieves and virtual industry mentorship initiatives. Debi remains involved with Village Virtual, continuing to support the organization's mission as she passes day-to-day leadership to Dr. Heather Fisher.