National Math + Science Initiative Announces New President

DALLAS, March 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is pleased to name Gregg Fleisher as its new President. Fleisher, who has been with NMSI since its launch in 2007, transitions into this role after serving as NMSI's Chief Academic Officer.

"Gregg's continued commitment to improving student achievement has profoundly affected NMSI's success. We are honored to have such a knowledgeable and innovative expert leading us into the next chapter of NMSI's growth," said Matthew Randazzo, CEO of NMSI.

Fleisher, whose career in education began as an Advanced Placement calculus teacher in Dallas, exemplifies the balance of personal connection and academic scrutiny that drives meaningful improvements in student success and teacher effectiveness. In 1995, Fleisher was one of the teachers who helped philanthropist Peter O'Donnell launch and expand what is now NMSI's College Readiness Program (CRP). In 2000, he led the nonprofit Advanced Placement Strategies (APS), which expanded CRP to hundreds of schools across Texas with an emphasis on serving students traditionally underrepresented in math and science. The tremendous success of APS at advancing student achievement in Dallas and across the state ultimately led to a major investment from ExxonMobil to scale CRP and other proven educational programs nationwide.

Fleisher continued his leadership role when he joined NMSI in 2007 to oversee the $79 million in grants awarded to nonprofit organizations in six states to replicate CRP and reach thousands of new students. The program has since been implemented in nearly 800 schools across 30 states from coast to coast. As Chief Academic Officer, Fleisher was responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight of CRP as well as NMSI's Laying the Foundation Teacher Training Program for teachers of grades 3-12 and UTeach Expansion Program, which is helping to cultivate and prepare the next generation of high-quality math and science teachers. As President, he will also serve as NMSI's key liaison with senior district leaders and new and existing state-level and national STEM education partners.

"Every student deserves a high-quality education and the resources and support they need to thrive," said Fleisher. "It has been extremely rewarding to have been a part of NMSI's growth and success in dramatically improving student achievement for nearly a decade and I am honored to take an even greater role in NMSI's work expanding educational opportunities and supporting academic excellence in school communities across the country."

About National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)
NMSI, a nonprofit organization, was launched in 2007 by top leaders in business, education and science to transform education in the United States.  NMSI has received national recognition for training grade 3-12 teachers and improving student performance through the rapid expansion of highly successful programs: NMSI's College Readiness Program, NMSI's Laying the Foundation Teacher Training Program, and NMSI's UTeach Expansion Program.  Inaugural funding for NMSI was provided by ExxonMobil, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.  For more information, visit www.nms.org.

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SOURCE National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)

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