Board Members
Madaline Fennell
Board 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...
read more
Michael J. Brown
2nd 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...
read more
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...
read more
John Oswald
Treasurer
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
Paul Ferarri
Ex Officio Board Member, Director of Public Engagement Strategy, CCSSO
Paul directs CCSSO’s public engagement strategy to support national and state efforts in the implementation of college and career ready standards and next generation assessments. Paul has worked at CCSSO since 2007, and in that time has been...
read more
Rebecca Mieliwocki
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...
read more
Joshua Parker
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...
read more
Harriet Sanford
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
Bob Williams
Alaska State Teacher of the Year 2009, NBCT
Bob Williams began his teaching career as a Peace Corps teacher in Gambia, Africa. He achieved National Board Certification (Math – AYA) in 2011 and currently teaches Geometry, Algebra 1, intervention Math Strategies and two AP Calculus courses at...
read more
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...
read more
