ASCD Announces 2010 Emerging Leaders

Alexandria, VA (05/27/10)—ASCD has selected 30 educators for its 2010 class of Emerging Leaders. The program's goal is to prepare young, ambitious educators to fulfill ASCD leadership roles and empower each cohort to make an impact on education policy and practice on a local and national level. 

This year’s diverse group broadly spans regional and professional spectrums. The leaders hail from metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas across the United States, and their professional roles include principals, instructors, program directors, and a growing number of university-level educators.

"ASCD relies on the strong leadership of our members to ensure that we continue to be an effective, meaningful force for education," said ASCD Executive Director Gene R. Carter. "We developed the Emerging Leaders program to connect the inspired, driven leaders of today with resources and opportunities that will enable them to influence and contribute to the greater field of education, as well as ASCD leadership, at the highest capacity."

To begin fostering professional growth, each emerging leader will be paired with an ASCD mentor—a Board member, Leadership Council member, affiliate leader, or other high-level contributor—who will provide support and help guide leadership progress and development over a two-year period. Emerging leaders will also attend ASCD's Leader to Leader (L2L) event in late July where they will participate in hot-topic sessions and geographically based groupings and share best resources, practices, and models.

Throughout the program, leaders will have the opportunity to pursue various roles—such as serving on ASCD's Legislative Committee, ASCD's Annual Conference Planning Committee and contributing to ASCD publications like Educational Leadership—that not only match their current strengths, but also empower them to continue to grow as leaders.

Curtis Cain, a class of 2007 emerging leader, said, "As an emerging leader, you are challenged to set your own path. You'll have all the support you need along the journey; you simply have to reach out and access it. I am a more confident, aware, and reflective educator as a result of participating in this program." Past leaders have also emphasized the many benefits of being given an opportunity to build a strong, professional network of educators eager to share experiences and successes, discuss opportunities, and take on challenges collaboratively.

Emerging Leaders have generally 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. 

This year's leaders were invited to apply for the competitive award based on self-nominations and recommendations made by past program participants, current ASCD members, and the greater education community. Once all online applications were received, an advisory panel composed of ASCD leaders and current emerging leaders carefully reviewed and selected this year's class.

ASCD's Emerging Leaders Class of 2010

• Aaron Spence—Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Chesterfield County Schools, Ruther Glen, Va
• Alina Davis—Grade 2 Teacher, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Fla.
• Amy Lockheart—Instructor, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
• Ayanna Cooper—Assistant Professor , Kennesaw State University, Dallas, Ga.
• Brie Nelson—Director of Governance, Center for Charter Schools, Collinsville, Ill.
• Christine Landwehrle—Supervisor of Instruction, Bedminster Township School, Bedminster, N.J.
• Crystal Robinson—Educational Administrator, Precious Cargo Educational Services, LLC, Atlanta, Ga.
• Dallas Dance—Chief Middle School Officer, Houston Independent School District, Houston, Tex.
• Daniel Gregory—Special Education Teacher, Wayzata Public Schools, Champlin, Minn.
• David Stovenour—Assistant Principal, Dundalk High School, Baltimore, Md.
• Dennis Carpenter—Deputy Superintendent, Newton County School District, Covington, Ga.
• Elizabeth Thomas—Principal, MCPS- Kingsview Middle School, Germantown, Md.
• Geoff Parks—Student Achievement Teacher, Cienega High School, Vail, Ariz.
• Jason Flom—Teacher/Mentor/Coordinator, Cornerstone Learning Community, Tallahassee, Fla.
• Jennifer Dilks—Teacher Coach, Warren County School District, Warren, Pa.
• John Forbes—Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, Center for Advanced Research and Technology, Fresno, Calif.
• Joseph Semadeni—Teacher/Instructional Facilitator, Lincoln County School District, Afton, Wyo.
• Kate Long—Principal, Twin Valley High School, Sinking Spring, Pa.
• Kelvin Moore—Principal, District of Columbia Public Schools, Largo, Md.
• Kimberly Kappler Hewitt—Director of Curriculum, Instructor, Oakwood City School District, Dayton, Ohio
• Leslie Standerfer—Principal, Estrella Foothills High School, Goodyear, Ariz.
• Marnie Hazelton—Coordinator for Elementary, Roosevelt UFSD, Freeport, N.Y.
• Misty LaCour—Instructor, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Ark.
• Richard Katz—Superintendent/Principal, Clinton-Glen Gardner School District, Clinton, N.J.
• Sarah Earle—Teacher, RB Stall High School, Summerville, S.C.
• Shane Hotchkiss—Assistant Superintendent, Bermudian Springs SD, York Springs, Pa.
• Valda Valbrun—Principal, Frederick County Public School, Frederick, Md.
• Viola Lynch—Assistant Principal, Cooper Lane Elementary School, Glenn Dale, Md.
• Wendy Lee—Assistant Principal, Orange County Public Schools, Ococee, Fla.
• Youness Elbousty—Director of Foreign Languages, Lynn Public Schools, Dracut, Mass.

Contact Information  

• Barbara Michelman, communications director, at 1-703-575-5764 or by e-mail. 
• Julia Liapidova, communications specialist, at 1-703-575-5461 or by e-mail.