National PTA Executive Director Elected Chair of Learning First Alliance Board
ALEXANDRIA, Va., (July 17, 2018)—The Learning First Alliance (LFA), a partnership of leading education associations representing more than 10 million parents, educators and policymakers, has elected Nathan R. Monell, CAE, executive director of National PTA, as chair of its Board of Directors for the 2018-2019 term.
“Nathan has a strong record of leadership and excellent association management skills, which will guide LFA as we work toward the continual, long-term improvement of public education and helping every student succeed,” said Richard M. Long, executive director of the Learning First Alliance. “His knowledge of the issues facing public education, students and families will help LFA work to advance public education at this critical time.”
As chair, Monell is committed to furthering the collaborative work of LFA’s diverse membership.
“I am very pleased to lead the Learning First Alliance at this important time for public education,” said Monell. “The voice and leadership of all stakeholders in the education community are needed more than ever to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, members and partners of LFA to advance public education and make sure every child has every opportunity to succeed and grow into a happy and healthy adult.”
National PTA's mission is to make a difference for the education, health, safety and well-being of every child and make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
Monell has spent his career working to improve the lives of marginalized individuals, including work with youth and adult mental health services, educational and employment outcomes, health and substance abuse prevention service, and housing and social services for families. Prior to joining National PTA in 2015, he served as president and CEO of the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, the advocacy, technical assistance and training organization for the federal GEAR UP program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs).
In addition to Monell, LFA’s Board of Directors also elected Marla Ucelli-Kashyap, Assistant to the President for Educational Issues at the American Federation of Teachers, as its 2018-2019 secretary/treasurer. JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and 2017-2018 LFA chair, also will serve on the executive committee as immediate past president.
Since it was incorporated in 1996, LFA has brought together the leading national education associations, which collectively represent 10 million parents, educators and policymakers, to collaborate on a variety of issues. Monell and Ucelli-Kashyap were instrumental in the development of LFA’s most recent publication, The Elements of Success: 10 Million Speak on Schools that Work, a compendium of research and best practices for building successful schools that is being used at schools and school districts across the country. Over the next year, LFA will convene several meetings between its members, business, policy and philanthropy communities to further the research and ideas presented in the Elements of Success.
About the Learning First Alliance
The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of leading education organizations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools. Alliance members include: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; AASA, The School Superintendents Association; American Federation of Teachers; American School Counselor Association; Consortium for School Networking; Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Education Association; National PTA; National School Boards Association; and National School Public Relations Association. To learn more about LFA, visit http://www.learningfirst.org/.
