26 Educators Announced As ASCD’s 2012 Class of Emerging Leaders

Alexandria, VA (05/30/12)—ASCD has selected 26 educators for its 2012 Emerging Leaders Class. The Emerging Leaders program recognizes and prepares young, promising educators to influence education programs, policy, and practice on both the local and national levels. ASCD is the global leader in providing programs, products, and services that empower educators to support the success of each learner. To view the entire list of the 2012 emerging leaders, visit the Emerging Leaders Directory.

All emerging leaders are enrolled in the program for two years and may be paired with an ASCD mentor—a member of the ASCD Board of Directors, an ASCD affiliate leader, or another high-level contributor—who can provide support and guidance in their professional development. Emerging leaders are invited to attend ASCD's Leader to Leader (L2L) Conference held in late July every year, where they have the opportunity to encounter new ideas, resources, and best practices from other ASCD leaders, presenters, and staff to help further develop their leadership skills.

This year's class was invited to apply for this competitive program based on self-nominations and recommendations made by past program participants, current ASCD members, and the greater education community. An advisory panel composed of ASCD staff, leaders, and emerging leader alumni reviewed and selected this year's class.

“It is my pleasure to congratulate the members of the 2012 Emerging Leaders Class on their selection to this prestigious program,” said Executive Director and CEO Dr. Gene Carter. “ASCD’s mission to support the success of each learner requires thoughtful, creative leaders who can visualize the future and marshal the resources to create that future. I’m confident that this year’s class is up to that task, and I look forward to working with them to develop the skills they need to meet that challenge head-on.”

Throughout the program, leaders will have the opportunity to pursue various leadership pathways—such as serving on committees, hosting networking events for educators, advocating for sound education policy, and contributing to ASCD publications like Educational Leadership—that not only match leaders' current strengths, but also empower them to continue to grow.

Emerging leaders have typically been in the profession between 5 and 15 years, have a marked interest in making a positive contribution to education policy and practice, and have invested in professional growth opportunities aimed at improving student outcomes. The 2012 class of emerging leaders is both professionally and regionally diverse, ranging from chemistry specialists to academic services administrators, hailing from across the globe and educating students from Hong Kong to Sarcoxie, Mo.

For more information on ASCD’s Emerging Leaders program or to learn more about ASCD’s other programs, products, services, or membership, visit www.ascd.org.

Contact Information  

• Marissa Bialecki, communications coordinator, 1-703-575-5461 or by e-mail.
• Stephen Wakefield, communications director, 1-703-575-5764 or by e-mail.