Jim Kohlmoos Named Next Executive Director of NASBE by Board of Directors

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The board of directors of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is proud to announce Jim Kohlmoos as NASBE's next executive director. Kohlmoos, presently the president and CEO of the Knowledge Alliance, will succeed the retiring Brenda Welburn, Feb. 2, 2012.

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"I am honored to have been selected by the NASBE board to help lead an organization with such a distinguished record in education policy leadership," said Kohlmoos. "I am a firm believer in the importance of citizen leadership in education governance as a cornerstone of our democracy, and am proud to join NASBE's state board members and staff in their continued promotion of this core principle."

"Jim has a deep passion for public education and the importance of a strong lay role in governance of public education," said NASBE President Allan Taylor. "This passion, added to his energy and broad education experience, make him a great fit as our next executive director in our continued efforts to promote high-quality education for all students."

Prior to joining the Knowledge Alliance in 2001, Kohlmoos was a vice president at The Implementation Group, a Washington, D.C.-based government relations firm where he built a bipartisan government relations practice in elementary and secondary education. From 1993-2000, he served as both a deputy assistant secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education and as a senior adviser and special assistant at the U.S. Department of Education.

Kohlmoos held multiple positions at the Close Up Foundation from 1977-93, leaving as a vice president. He began his education career with the U.S. Teacher Corps in Salinas, CA, and then served as a teacher trainer with the Peace Corps, which took him to Malaysia for three years.

He has a bachelor's in history from Stanford University and teacher credentials from the University of California. He has completed graduate courses at Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, and the University of California at Santa Cruz.

The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America's state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen State Boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and students. For more, visit www.nasbe.org.

SOURCE National Association of State Boards of Education