Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

ASCD Announces New CEO, Deborah S. Delisle

  • 04/30/15

Alexandria, Va. —ASCD's board of directors announced today the appointment of U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Deborah S. Delisle to the post of ASCD's Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. Delisle will take the helm of ASCD effective July 1, 2015. She will replace Executive Director Judy Seltz, who is retiring at the end of June.

"I'm honored to join this respected association and excited to lead the next phase of ASCD’s growth," said Delisle. "ASCD has a talented roster of professionals dedicated to success for all educators, and loyal member and customer bases that I am proud to represent. I am passionate about ASCD's mission to support the whole child through high-quality professional development, and I look forward to the many new initiatives we will embark upon."

During Delisle's 38-year career, she has served as a teacher, gifted education specialist, curriculum director, elementary school principal, district associate superintendent, and superintendent. She was nominated to her current position by President Obama in January 2012 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 27, 2012. She plays a pivotal role in policy and management issues affecting elementary and secondary education for the U.S. Department of Education. Delisle has coordinated and recommended policy for programs designed to assist state and local education agencies in improving the achievement of elementary and secondary school students.

Prior to her role at the Department of Education, Delisle was a senior fellow at the International Center for Leadership in Education with a deep interest in educator performance systems and creating transformative cultures in schools and districts to support educators and students. Prior to that work, Delisle served as Ohio's 35th state superintendent of public instruction from 2008 to 2011.

"Following a comprehensive search, the board selected Deborah Delisle for her extensive knowledge of what educators truly need to succeed in their ever-changing roles," said Nancy Gibson, ASCD President. "This was a thorough process, and we're confident we have found the right leader for ASCD. Deborah's combination of qualifications and proven success is matched by few in education, and we know she will provide visionary leadership for ASCD's continued quest for excellence in learning, teaching and leading."

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Education Design Showcase Awards

    Spaces4Learning has opened submissions for the 2026 Education Design Showcase! The awards program launched in 1999 with the goal of celebrating innovative, practical solutions in the planning, design, and construction of K–12 and higher-education facilities. EDS recognizes new developments that help achieve optimal learning environments, as well as the architecture firms that brought the ideas to life.