Nancy Gibson
Position: Superintendent, O'Fallon Community Consolidated School District (CCSD), District #90, O'Fallon, Ill.
Education: B.S. and M.Ed., University of Illinois; C.A.S. and Ph.D., Illinois State University; certifications in special education, K–8 elementary education, and education administration.
Career History and Highlights:Superintendent, instructional leader, O'Fallon CCSD, District #90, O'Fallon, Ill. (2004–present); superintendent, Blue Ridge Community Unit School, District #18, Farmer City, Ill. (2001–04); assistant superintendent of schools, instructional services, Olympia Community Unit, District #16, Stanford, Ill. (1998–2001); principal, Dwight Common Grade School #232, Dwight, Ill. (1995–98); adjunct professor, Illinois State University, Normal, Ill. (1996–98); assistant principal, University High School, Illinois State University, Normal, Ill. (1994–95); K–12 teacher in special education, learning disabled, cross-categorical, and mentally impaired.
ASCD and Affiliate Participation:ASCD member, 13 years; affiliate member, 13 years. Member, ASCD Leadership Council (2004–07); Position Action Committee cochair (2005–06); Legislative Committee (2005–06) and Nominations Committee (2002–04). Illinois ASCD past president and cochair of Influence Committee (2006–present); Executive Committee president (2005–06), treasurer (2002–04); Illinois ASCD board member and Elementary Committee chair; member, State Staff Development Committee (1994–2002).
What is Your Vision for ASCD?
My vision is that ASCD will become a true "learning organization," encouraging diverse ideas and expanding collaborations. This will be an organization where the richness of ideas and positive energy are combined to bring about exciting and positive change.
To accomplish this, ASCD will first expand and redesign its research services to create a "best practices clearinghouse." This resource will draw educators to a wealth of scientific research-based programs, products, and services founded on ASCD's philosophy of educating the whole child. Second, ASCD will aggressively pursue avenues of influence aimed at changing educators into advocates for academic rigor, essential 21st century skills, and global partnering. This goal is significant, timely, and profound. I want ASCD at its front.
This current state of ASCD is exciting. As a Board of Directors member, I would be engaged and active; additionally, the new vision fits my skills and continues to move me easily from a successful, active member to a passionate, energized education advocate. I actively seek the opportunity to serve ASCD as a Board of Directors member through the transition from success to significance.
Helene Paroff
Position: Assistant superintendent, Student Learning and Support Services, Educational Service District 101, Spokane, Wash.
Education: B.S., State University College of New York at Buffalo; M.Ed., Loyola College; certificate of advanced study (educational administration), State University College of New York at Fredonia.
Career History and Highlights:Assistant superintendent, student learning and support services, Educational Service District 101 (1996–present). Director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment; coordinator, Center for School Improvement; coordinator, staff and curriculum development, Erie I Board of Cooperative Educational Services; special education teacher, Baltimore County, Md., and Kenmore, N.Y. 2008 Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Student Achievement Leadership Award; 2007 Washington State Association of Educational Service Districts certificate of appreciation; 2005 Washington State School Board of Education Leadership Award; 2003 WASA Regional Award of Merit; 2003 Northeast WASA Merit Award.
ASCD and Affiliate Participation:ASCD member, 14 years; affiliate member, 11 years. President, Washington State ASCD, 2 years. Cochair, 2008 Affiliate Annual Conference; presenter and facilitator, 2004 Northwest/Southwest regional meeting; program cochair, 1998 Affiliate Annual Conference.
What is Your Vision for ASCD?
The prospect of being on the Board of Directors as ASCD continues its journey from success to significance is quite energizing. With its roots as the premier professional development organization, ASCD could have chosen to continue in this vein and continue to be viewed as highly successful—by any measure. Instead, the leadership took bold action and found a new direction—how to move toward significance. The organization's simply stated—yet extremely powerful—mission, vision, beliefs, and goals speak volumes and truly provide the foundation for future actions.
ASCD's long-held commitment to sharing its vision, collaborating with others, and holding high standards for the benefit of children is tightly aligned with my personal beliefs in how to achieve the greatest good. My professional career, whether as a teacher or administrator, has always revolved around responding to the question, What will make the difference in the life of a child? The answer to this question does not reside within one person; it is the result of many people coming together around that essential issue. ASCD is well positioned for influencing what happens for children throughout the world.
Bertram Tulk
Position: Superintendent, Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Education: B.A., B.Ed., and M.Ed., Memorial University of Newfoundland; Ed.D., Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
Career History and Highlights:Superintendent and chief executive officer, APSEA (2005–present); assistant director, education, 7 years; superintendent, education, 2 years; director, global education, 3 years; program coordinator, 6 years; principal, 2 years; department head, 1 year; classroom teacher, 4 years. Chair, Green Teacher Board of Directors, 3 years; member, Language Learning, Environment and Resource Network board of directors, 3 years; Stellar Schools Board, 2 years. Adjunct professor, Mount Saint Vincent University, 2 years; assessor, Canadian Studies Directorate, Secretary of State, 16 years; curriculum developer, Ontario Green Schools Project, 2 years. Honorary member, Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association Humanities Council (2002); founding member, Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (1993).
ASCD and Affiliate Participation:ASCD member, 10 years. Founding president, ASCD Atlantic Canada Connected Community (2004–07). Member, ASCD Leadership Conference Design Team (2008), Worldwide Influence Study Group (2007–08), and Global Education Network (1992–99). ASCD Associate (2004–present). Participant, ASCD Regional Meetings (2005–07); attendee, Annual Conference (2001, 2004, 2006, 2008).
What Is Your Vision for ASCD?
"The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving."
ASCD's vision as a "worldwide leader in learning, teaching, and educational leadership" measures well against Oliver Wendell Holmes' criterion. Our 65-year record of enhancing education through the provision of quality professional development resources, programs, and services has been successful by any standard. Even more exciting is ASCD's direction from success to significance.
My vision for ASCD embraces a clearly articulated focus, which reflects an informed mission for our increasingly diverse membership. Leadership rooted in service grows, especially when there is respect for others' voices, reflection that deepens and strengthens understanding, and practices that nurture blossoming of renewal and refinement. To be a teacher is to be a gardener of possibilities.
I welcome the opportunity to serve ASCD by listening, questioning, responding, and ultimately understanding. The strength of our collective experience and wisdom is essential for ASCD's Strategic Plan to effect improvements in education on a worldwide scale. A significant direction has been set—let's cultivate new fields of possibilities.
Donald Viegut
Position: Deputy superintendent, Wausau School District, Wausau, Wis.
Education: B.S., M.S., and E.D.S., University of Wisconsin; Ph.D., Western Michigan University.
Career History and Highlights:Deputy superintendent (2008–present), facilitate organizational assessment, research, and innovation; superintendent (2004–08), facilitate strategic planning, referendum planning, capital improvements, and student learning initiatives; recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School (2007); director of curriculum and instruction (1995–2004), facilitate all facets of improving student learning; principal (1989–93), lead school improvement planning and tend to growing school culture; director of school and business partnerships (1993–95); classroom teacher (1981–89). Chair, PK–18 Council (2003–present); coauthor,Common Formative Assessments (2006).
ASCD and Affiliate Participation:ASCD member, 11 years; affiliate member, 9 years. Member, ASCD Leadership Council (2001–03 and 2004–05); Nominations Committee (2005–07), chair (2006–07); Leadership Council Study Group. Wisconsin ASCD vice president, president-elect, president, past president, affiliate conference presenter, and Influence Committee member. Participant, Affiliate Leadership Conference, ASCD's LEAP Institute, and central regional meetings.
What Is Your Vision for ASCD?
ASCD is the educational hope for the world. ASCD has earned the reputation as a trusted source within the education community. Earning that same respect external to the education community must be part of our vision.
As leaders of ASCD, we must inspire a sense of hope throughout the world regarding a very bright future for education. We must enhance current efforts at ASCD to continue to build the capacity in us as educators. We must do this so that we are better equipped to influence policy and practice locally and on a larger scale. We need to build on current Association beliefs and be even more intentional about diversity. Understanding differences—and acting on that knowledge—is more important now than at any time in our history. In our future, we must acknowledge that our significance will not be defined by ourselves, but by others. As a member of the ASCD Board of Directors, I would bring the skills and experience to assist other members of the Board to collectively address our most important work. Additionally, I commit to not only working on the right work, but also working in a way that strengthens the organization.