Board Members
Paul Ferarri
Board Co-Chair, Education Consultant
Paul Ferrari is an education consultant with extensive experience in K-12 Education policy. He previously led the National Teacher of the Year program at CCSSO and brings deep knowledge and experience leading communications, external affairs, and...
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Rebecca Mieliwocki
Board Co-Chair, National Teacher of the Year 2012
Rebecca Mieliwocki is the 2012 National Teacher of the Year from California. Currently a Teacher on Special Assignment, Rebecca coordinates Secondary Teacher Induction and Professional Development for Burbank Unified School District. A veteran...
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Michael J. Brown
Vice Chair, MJB Outreach Solutions
Michael J. Brown is Managing Director of MJB Outreach Solutions, LLC. Brown most recently was the former National President of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. where he led the 100’s worldwide headquarters’ operations, programs and development...
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Joshua Parker
Vice Chair, Equity, Maryland State Teacher of the Year 2012
Josh Parker’s mission in education and life is to “help people and solve problems.” Throughout his career, he has achieved both goals. He has served students and teachers within the Baltimore/Washington D.C. corridor as an ELA Instructional...
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Madaline Fennell
Past Chair, Nebraska State Teacher of the Year 2007
Madaline (Maddie) Fennell brings extensive experience and passion to her work as an advocate for children and public education. She is the Executive Director of the Nebraska State Education Association and serves as Chair of the NNSTOY Board of...
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Dyane Smokorowski
Secretary, Kansas State Teacher of the Year 2013
In her 17 years in education, Dyane Smokorowski has taught middle school language arts in the Wichita, Renwick and Andover school districts in a project-based classroom focusing on critical thinking, communication, global collaboration and...
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John Oswald
Treasurer, The Oswald Group
John Oswald has been in the educational testing business for 48 years, and has held leadership roles in Harcourt Assessments, Riverside Publishing, and Educational Testing Service, among others. Since retiring from ETS, he is providing consulting...
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Bobbie Cavnar
North Carolina Teacher of the Year 2017
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bobbie Cavnar attended Florida State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in English Education in 1999. After graduating, he taught English and Journalism for four years in the Ft. Lauderdale area before...
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Jemelleh Coes
Georgia State Teacher of the Year 2014
In 2013, Jemelleh Coes, as the youngest member of her school faculty and staff, was nominated to represent Bulloch County as Teacher of the Year. She went on to become Georgia’s 2014 Teacher of the Year. She spent the last year traveling locally...
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Michael Dunlea
New Jersey State Teacher of the Year Finalist 2012
Michael Dunlea became a teacher to make students feel valued, become empowered and live extraordinary lives. He is a 2012 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year Finalist, a 16 year veteran classroom teacher and currently teaches 3rd grade in...
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Sharon Gallagher Fishbaugh
Utah Teacher of the Year 2009
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Natasha Murray
New York Teacher of the Year Finalist 2017
Dr. Natasha T. K. Murray is an award-winning scholar practitioner with extensive experience in K-12 and university settings. As a product of the New York public school system, after earning her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, she...
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Harriet Sanford
Former President and CEO of the NEA Foundation
Harriet Sanford is the former President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. She led the work of the Foundation from 2005 until 2019. The NEA Foundation’s mission is to advance student achievement by investing in public education. Its programs raise the...
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Rebecca Snyder
Pennsylvania State Teacher of the Year 2009
Rebecca Snyder chairs the Language Arts Department and teaches English at Greater Latrobe Senior High School in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. A veteran of the classroom, Mrs. Snyder has taught multiple grade levels and courses as both a secondary...
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Monica Washington
Texas State Teacher of the Year 2014
Monica Washington is the Manager of Inclusive and Responsive Educational Practices and an instructional coach for BetterLesson supporting teachers and other instructional coaches across the country as they make positive shifts in instruction and...
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John I. Wilson
Former Executive Director, NEA
John I. Wilson, a long-time special education teacher and association leader, was executive director of the National Education Association from November 1, 2000 to August 31, 2011. The nation's largest teachers union, NEA also represents...
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