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ASCD Announces Elected Leaders and Directors

  • 08/04/15

Alexandria, Va. — ASCD, a community dedicated to excellence in learning, teaching, and leading, is pleased to announce Matt McClure, the chief learning and financial officer of Cross County (Ark.) School District and cofounder of Arkansas Tech University's LEAD 21 Walton Leader Scholars program, as the association's new president. In addition, the newly elected ASCD vice president is Ronal Butler, who also serves as the president and CEO of Networking & Engineering Technologies, Inc. in Virginia. McClure and Butler will each serve one-year terms, which began on July 1.

“ASCD’s role in overcoming education’s major challenges―including the pressures of testing and accountability and the need to develop highly effective educators at all levels―is critical, and I am honored and privileged to be the association’s president," said McClure. "I look forward to working with my fellow board members, including Executive Director and CEO Deb Delisle, along with ASCD members worldwide as we aim to establish an even stronger presence in advocacy; continue delivering innovative, high-quality programs, products, and services; and raise our collective voices to demand we educate the whole child."

McClure has served as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and award-winning superintendent of schools during his 18-year career. As president of Arkansas ASCD, McClure was instrumental in helping Arkansas become the first state to pass legislation supporting the whole child. In 2010, he was the youngest-ever Arkansas Superintendent of the Year. He also made the 2011 Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 list and received the 2012 ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award.

"Matt’s commitment to serving the well-rounded needs of every student and educator is clearly evident to each of us who has had the opportunity to work with him," said Deb Delisle, ASCD executive director and CEO. "He embodies the mission and vision of ASCD―notably our commitment to raising a generation of children who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged―and I am excited to collaborate with him throughout his tenure as we embark on new and ambitious initiatives."

Joining the elected leaders are the following new members of the Board of Directors, who began four-year terms on July 1:

  • Leslie Grant―assistant professor, College of William and Mary, and coauthor of West Meets East: Best Practices from Expert Teachers in the U.S. and China.
  • Benjamin Shuldiner―distinguished lecturer of education leadership, Hunter College, City University of New York.

Learn more about ASCD governance at www.ascd.org/governance and about the ASCD Whole Child approach www.ascd.org/wholechild. For more information about ASCD's programs, products, and services, visit www.ascd.org.

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