Matt McClure, an award-winning superintendent, technology expert and author, and now ASCD President, has spent his career advocating for an improved public education system. Currently the chief learning and financial officer of Cross County School District and coordinator/faciliatator and cofounder of Arkansas Tech University's LEAD 21 Walton Leader Scholars program, McClure's vision for ASCD reflects the trailblazing mentality that has marked his career:
Education is at a defining moment in history. The pressures of testing and accountability, the need to develop highly effective teacher educators at all levels, and the urgency of training instructional leaders are only a few of the challenges we face.ASCD stands as the premier organization to meet those challenges and as a voice in demanding we educate the whole child. My vision is that ASCD will continue to focus the lens on making sure that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged and that ASCD will remain a positive resource for educators becoming even more connected under the direction of Deborah Delisle, our new executive director, and her wealth of experience and knowledge.Now is the time for ASCD to become an even stronger presence in advocacy while still producing the programs, products, and services that we as educators need to meet the needs of every child everywhere.
McClure's experience and desire for change are equally matched. 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. Author of Getting It Right: Aligning Technology Initiatives for Measurable Student Outcomes (Corwin, 2011), McClure has been celebrated widely for his influence in educational technology.