One-Year Term
Mary Ellen Freeley
Position: Superintendent, Glen Cove City Schools, Long Island, New York.
Education: B.S., St. Joseph's College; M.S., Queens College, City University of New York; Ed.D., St. John's University.
Career History and Highlights: Responsible for students in grades preK—12 in six schools. Over the course of my career, I have taught students ranging from first grade through the doctoral level. In addition, I have served as an elementary principal and an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction prior to assuming the superintendent's position. I am well published in the area of learning styles and have conducted hundreds of workshops on that topic for teachers and administrators across the United States. I have served as president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents, the St. John's University chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, and St. Joseph's College Alumni Association. I also sit as director for a number of business, philanthropic, and educational boards.
ASCD and Affiliate Participation: ASCD member since the early 1980s; affiliate member, 20 years. Member, ASCD Executive Council (2000–03), Board of Directors, and Annual Conference Planning Committee (two years); presenter at Annual Conferences (Orlando, San Antonio, and San Francisco). Affiliate executive board member-at-large, secretary, president-elect, and president; representative to Affiliate Leadership Conferences and Northeast Regional Conferences; member, local hospitality committee for the Annual Conference in New York City in the early 1980s. Participant and presenter at annual state conferences.
Statement of Leadership: A leader looks at situations that present themselves, gathers necessary information from multiple sources, and mobilizes people to develop alternative solutions to address those situations. I have successfully demonstrated this type of leadership by challenging my staff and colleagues, providing them opportunities for ownership, and working with them to seek resolutions to a variety of diverse issues.
I would welcome the opportunity to use my leadership skills in a similar way in the President-Elect position. I am particularly interested in using my strong interpersonal and communication skills to develop collaborative relationships within and outside of the organization to improve teaching and learning worldwide. Capitalizing on my skills as a facilitator, organizer, and implementer, I am eager to work with others to address complex problems using current research and best practices.
Now, more than ever before in the history of our organization, as ASCD transitions to a new governance structure, its leaders will be called upon to act with confidence and determination to nurture the Association's growth as it strives to achieve the goals delineated in the Strategic Plan. It would be an honor for me to serve ASCD in this exciting and challenging time on behalf of children and educators around the globe.
Kolene Granger
Position: Superintendent (Retired), Washington County School District (SD), St. George, Utah.
Education: B.S., M.Ed., and Ph.D., Brigham Young University (BYU).
Career History and Highlights: Superintendent, Washington County School District (19,000 students, 1996—present); associate superintendent, Utah Office of Education; assistant superintendent, Alpine SD; coordinator of guidance and counseling, Jordan SD; counselor, Alpine and Jordan SD; teacher, Alpine SD, Westminster College, BYU, and Weber State University; consultant and trainer/presenter. Member, WestEd Executive Board; Council of Chief State School Officers Study Commission; BYU Ed Partnership; Educational Technology Initiative; Partnership for Education and Economic Development Parent Involvement and Character Development Initiatives; Joint Utah School Board Association and Utah Society of Superintendents' Legislative Committee. Facilitator, K—12 Standards Scope and Sequence, instructional management technology system, policy development, staff development model, balanced literacy implementation, Developmental Discipline Model, contribution-based Learning Instructional Model. Author, monthly newspaper column, Alpine's Interactive Character Development Model, articles in Utah ASCD journal, GEMS Guidance, K—12, Career Education Resource Guide, Discipline in the Classroom (home study course), and Remedial, Preventative, and Developmental Guidance (dissertation).
ASCD and Affiliate Participation: ASCD member, 19 years; affiliate member, 19 years. Chair, ASCD Nominations-Elections Panel; member, Governance Transition Advisory Committee, Governance Evaluation Commission, National Restructuring Consortium, Board of Directors. Utah ASCD president, chair of Past Presidents' Council, conference committee, editorial board for journal, board of directors, constitutional revision committee, presenter.
Statement of Leadership: ASCD is the premier educational association, and is uniquely organized around a culture of enduring principles and excellence in practice rather than professional positions. This focused capacity represents a diverse, international learning community that holds in common a passion for professional growth and renewal to meet the needs of children. Throughout the organization, members seek meaningful opportunities to use their uniqueness to clarify critical issues, remain constant in student advocacy, enhance their leadership capacity, and link this learning community together to support meaningful change and to influence public opinion and legislation.
The recent changes in ASCD governance have been designed to better meet its mission by accessing the diversity, dedication, experience, and talents of its members. Increasingly, their focus and contributions enhance ASCD's ability to exert a positive influence upon the serious and difficult educational issues facing us today. I commit my leadership to seeking opportunities for our educational family to apply its strengths to the political, professional, and sociological realities that affect success for all students. For the sake of the children, we need to utilize the willing service and deep commitment of so many exemplary educators to realize the incredible potential of ASCD to influence educational thought and policy.