NASBE Membership Elects New Leaders to Its Board of Directors

Alexandria, Va. — The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to announce the election of new leaders to its board of directors. Sarah Moore, chair of the Arkansas State Board of Education, became NASBE’s board chair at the close of the organization’s Annual Conference and business meeting in October. Keven Ellis, who chairs the Texas State Board of Education, was chosen as NASBE’s chair-elect and begins his term on the board immediately. Ellis previously served as Southern Area director. He will begin as NASBE’s board chair at the close of its 2024 Annual Conference next October. Maine board chair Fern Desjardins was elected to a second term as NASBE’s secretary-treasurer.

The membership also elected regional officers to NASBE’s 2023–24 board:

• Matt W. Donaldson, Georgia (Southern Area director, two-year term)
• Erin D. Benham, Connecticut (Northeastern Area director, two-year term)
• Julia (Julie) Pile, Kentucky (New Member Representative, one-year term)

These individuals will join Maria Gutierrez of Guam and Nebraska’s Patti Gubbels, who are completing their final year as Western and Central Area directors respectively, as well as immediate past chair Christine Benson of Illinois. McCall Flynn, representative of the National Council of State Board of Education Executives, and Stacey Suber-Drake, representative of the National Council of State Education Attorneys, serve as ex officio members of NASBE’s board.

“NASBE provides an important service to state board of education members across the country by enriching and supporting the unique roles and challenges of state board members,” Moore said. “I am honored to serve as chair to support the organization’s work and continued growth. I look forward to working with NASBE’s board of directors and state board members who play critical roles across the nation.”

“Although the scope and duties of state boards differ across the country, each is tasked with the critically important work of improving the educational outcomes of the students they serve,” said Ellis. “This work is unique in state government, and NASBE serves a vital role in supporting state board members in this duty. It is my honor to work with the NASBE membership as chair-elect to learn their needs and support each of them in the diverse roles they serve.”

“NASBE’s board of directors help the organization achieve its mission of developing, supporting, and empowering state boards to fully embrace their role as citizen leaders to strengthen education systems so that all students can thrive,” said NASBE President and CEO Paolo DeMaria. “NASBE’s board of directors is stronger than ever to lead in these unprecedented times.”

In October, NASBE’s membership also adopted revisions to its public education position on Assessment, Accountability, Accreditation, and School Improvement and added a position on High School Design for Student Success. These positions will guide NASBE’s ongoing work in school improvement and high school redesign. All NASBE’s current public education positions can be found here.

NASBE serves as the only membership organization for state boards of education. A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, NASBE elevates state board members’ voices in national and state policymaking, facilitates the exchange of informed ideas, and supports members in advancing equity and excellence in public education for students of all races, genders, and circumstances. Learn more at www.nasbe.org.

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