Education Leader Cheryl Williams Named Executive Director of the Learning First Alliance

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cheryl Williams, an education industry leader with more than 30 years of experience including executive roles at associations, non-profits and commercial companies, has joined the Learning First Alliance as Executive Director. The Learning First Alliance, a partnership of 16 national education associations representing more than ten million parents, educators and policymakers, will benefit from Williams' broad knowledge of federal, state and local education initiatives, as well as her expertise in technology implementation for school districts.

"Williams was selected for this role because of the diverse and successful leadership qualities she has demonstrated throughout her career," said Richard Bagin, executive director of the National School Public Relations Association and chair of the Learning First Alliance (LFA). "Her experience at the local education level, combined with her work with national associations and corporate outreach programs, are an enormous asset to LFA. And, her expertise in education technology will bring a new component to the LFA leadership team," Bagin noted.

Williams began her professional life as a secondary English teacher and adult education instructor and her career has included leadership roles with the American Association of University Women, the National School Boards Association, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Teachscape, Inc.  She has also held roles in the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training (currently serving on the Board of Directors), the International Society for Technology in Education, the Consortium for School Networking and the American Society for Association Executives, among others.

"The Learning First Alliance is in the unique position to focus leadership at both the national and state level on the issues affecting schools today and to provide them with models for improvement," said Williams. "I feel my experience with education nonprofits and corporations will help the Alliance broaden its mission to provide effective leadership for school change."  

About the Learning First Alliance: The Learning First Alliance is a permanent partnership of 16 leading education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools. Alliance members include: the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, American Association of School Administrators, American Association of School Personnel Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American School Counselor Association, Association of School Business Officials International, Learning Forward (formerly National Staff Development Council), National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of State Boards of Education, National Education Association, National Middle School Association, National School Public Relations Association, National PTA, National School Boards Association and Phi Delta Kappa International. The Alliance maintains www.learningfirst.org, a website that features what's working in public schools and districts across the country.

SOURCE Learning First Alliance