LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences, comprised of over 300 prominent education leaders, organizations and advocates, announced the addition of eleven new members to the Board of Governors. They include: Gary Knell, CEO of National Geographic Society; Governor Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and President, Alliance for Excellent Education; Pam Iorio, President/CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Nicole Taylor, CEO, Thrive Foundation for Youth; Steven Barnett, Director, National Institute for Early Education Research; Geoffrey Nagle, President/CEO, Erikson Institute; Sharon Lynn Kagan, Co-Director, National Center for Children and Families, Teachers College; Cathy Tisdale, CEO, Camp Fire; Judy Vredenburgh, President/CEO, Girls Inc; Michael Rhodes, Emmy-winning director and CEO of FilmClips; and  Gene Carter, Emeritus Executive Director of ASCD.

The new members represent growing support for recognizing the massive, cross-discipline, collaboration required to educate children.

"I am honored to join the Board of Governors at the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences International, which recognizes what's right in education by identifying, honoring, and celebrating the significant contributions of individuals at all levels of the education community," said Gov. Bob Wise, Alliance for Excellent Education.

Modeled on the broad scope of the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys, the Bammy Awards were created to be a cross-discipline honor celebrating the entire education village. This year's event will include awards to Dr. Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics; education thought leader Sir Ken Robinson; pioneers of the flipped classroom movement, Jon Bergmann and Aaron Sams; and the inspiring inner-city teacher Rafe Esquith.

"We are thrilled to see that the mission of the Bammy Awards continues to resonate so strongly," said Errol St. Clair Smith, executive producer.

About the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences

The Academy is comprised of over 300 prominent education leaders, including Linda Darling-Hammond, professor of education at Stanford University; Diane Ravitch, former Assistant Secretary of Education; Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association; PBS reporter John Merrow; Brian Lewis, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE); Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers; and thought leaders Daniel Pink and Tom De Boor.

For more go to: www.bammyawards.org or call Jeannette Bernstein at 818-539-5971.

SOURCE Academy of Education Arts and Sciences