Staff

Former NBPTS Board member Peggy Brookins, NBCT, joined the National Board as Executive Vice President in December 2014 and was named President & CEO in November 2015. Her long career as an educator includes many national leadership positions and accolades. In July 2014, President Obama named Brookins as a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. She came to the National Board from the Engineering and Manufacturing Institute of Technology at Forest High School in Ocala, Florida, which she co-founded in 1994, where she served as director and mathematics instructor. She served on the NBPTS Board from 2007 to 2011. In addition, she has served on the board of The Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences Ad Hoc Committee on Teachers as Professionals, the Content Technical Working Group for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a commissioner on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), P21 Executive Board, and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Teacher Prep Commission. She has been a national trainer for AFT (Thinking Mathematics K-2, 3-6, 6-8 Common Core, collaborator and national trainer for Thinking Mathematics 6-8). She currently serves on the Advisory Board of Digital Promise, National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) Executive Board, Fund for Teachers Executive Board, Out Teach Executive Board, Bowie State University and the STAR Program Advisory Board, National Geographic Education Audit Advisory Board, Eddie and Jules Trump Foundation of Israel Advisory Board, the Class Strategic Advisory Board, the Learning Variability Project Advisory Board, Global Teacher Leadership Advisory Board, Teach Plus, and the Learning Policy Institute’s Spencer/Yidan Advisory Committee. Brookins achieved her certification in Adult and Young Adolescent Mathematics in 2003 and renewed it in 2013. She was inducted into the University of Florida Alumni Hall of Fame in 2009, Received the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) “Woodie Flowers” Award in 2016, is a Florida Education Association “Everyday Hero,” and received the association’s Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2013, Brookins was named an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar.

Joe Doctor leads strategy, program, finance, and operations for the National Board. His work is focused on how the National Board can catalyze a highly-skilled, diverse teaching profession through empowering teachers to meet the needs of students and advance their learning. He previously served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Policy, and Special Assistant to the President, leading the development and implementation of the National Board’s strategic plan. He co-authored “Raising the Bar for Teaching” with Jal Mehta, arguing for adapting supports other professions have put in place as a strategy to elevate teaching. Doctor joined the National Board in 2012. Previously, he was at the Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit strategy consulting organization. His work there focused on developing breakthrough strategies for nonprofits, foundations, and public school systems in K-12 education. Doctor has an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Yale University and a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University.

As Vice President of Certification & Innovation, Lisa Clarke leads and integrates all aspects of the National Board’s certification and innovation portfolio—including certification design and operations, candidate experience, program partnerships, and journey platforms. She plays a critical role in ensuring that National Board Certification remains the gold standard in performance-based teacher assessment while expanding access and deepening educator impact.

Before joining the National Board, Clarke served as Team Lead for the U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching Ambassador Fellows, where she advocated for teacher voice in education policy. A National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescent Young Adult Social Studies-History, she taught social studies in Kent, WA, and Brooklyn, NY, and held multiple leadership roles in the Kent School District, including serving on the Superintendent’s Professional Learning Community and leading curriculum design initiatives.

Clarke was recognized as the World Affairs Council’s 2011 World Educator and was selected as a World Affairs Council Fellow for her efforts to advance global education. She has contributed to the field of teacher leadership and professional learning through service on the Board of the Washington State Council for the Social Studies and as local co-chair for the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference.

Clarke began her career at Rutgers University, where she studied gender and public policy and worked at the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. She holds degrees from Providence College, Rutgers University, and Brooklyn College and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Education Policy and Leadership at American University.

Tamara Dudley joined the National Board in April of 2022 as Vice President of Advocacy & Communications. Tamara previously worked for the National Policing Institute (NPI), where she spearheaded organizational-wide marketing, communications, and development initiatives, translating research into practice. Tamara has implemented creative strategies and process improvements for universities and alumni associations, revamping departments and leading enterprise systems conversions. She led membership and marketing departments, increasing engagement, retention, and growth.

Tamara has also developed community engagement programs focused on deepened relationships and inspired individuals to support education, income, and health initiatives. She achieved this while simultaneously executing award-winning revenue-generating campaigns. She has 20 years of non-profit management expertise, both nationally and internationally, having worked in and/or overseen marketing, strategic planning, communications, development, events, business development, member services, and public relations functions in various large and small organizations. On the international front, Tamara worked to raise awareness of the plight of orphaned and impoverished children in Egypt. She helped to deepen the brand awareness of the Valuable Girl Project and the Serve-To-Learn Programs. As a former Director of Development and Communications, she collaborated successfully with politicians, dignitaries, and industry leaders to support youth programs and secure appropriations for education programs. She has also trained industry professionals on her recruitment, retention, and growth best practices and managed 250 workplace-giving corporate accounts while helping organizations to grow in their corporate social responsibility and community engagement efforts. She strongly advocates data and analysis-driven efforts and performance management, including return on investment analysis.

Tamara has raised nearly $30 million in funding over her career. Most recently, she collaboratively helped to secure a multimillion-dollar gift from the Mackenzie Scott Foundation. Tamara has received numerous awards and recognition from the Virginia Public Relations Society and CASE, including Capital Merit Awards and an Award of Excellence. Tamara is deeply enthusiastic about inspiring a generation of youth with the courage to transform the next. Tamara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and serves on the Board of Directors for Zoe Freedom Center.

Dr. Catrice Reese is a dynamic and mission-driven senior executive with over 15 years of experience leading strategic operations, people-centered initiatives, and systems transformation in national education and nonprofit organizations. As Vice President of People, Operations, Finance & Technology at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, she oversees the organization’s internal infrastructure, ensuring finance, HR, and technology systems are aligned, efficient, and equitable, powering the mission to advance accomplished teaching for every student.

Known for her agile leadership and thoughtful stewardship, Dr. Reese has developed and scaled operational and cultural frameworks that have saved organizations over $1 million, while strengthening staff engagement and building inclusive, high-performing cultures. Prior to joining the National Board, she served as Managing Director of Operations and Employee Experience at Gradient Learning, where she built the HR, Finance, and Operations functions from the ground up in a fully remote environment and launched the organization’s learning and leadership development arm.

Her career spans both nonprofit and higher education sectors, including leadership roles at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, where she led state-wide student success transformation initiatives and built virtual student service infrastructures across 16 colleges.

Catrice brings a unique blend of strategic insight, operational excellence, and people-first leadership. She holds a Doctor of Education from Western Kentucky University, an MBA from Sullivan University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Transylvania University.

Dr. Reese is passionate about systems that enable people to flourish, and believes in the power of culture, data, and storytelling to move missions forward.

Former NBPTS Board member Peggy Brookins, NBCT, joined the National Board as Executive Vice President in December 2014 and was named President & CEO in November 2015. Her long career as an educator includes many national leadership positions and accolades. In July 2014, President Obama named Brookins as a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. She came to the National Board from the Engineering and Manufacturing Institute of Technology at Forest High School in Ocala, Florida, which she co-founded in 1994, where she served as director and mathematics instructor. She served on the NBPTS Board from 2007 to 2011. In addition, she has served on the board of The Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences Ad Hoc Committee on Teachers as Professionals, the Content Technical Working Group for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a commissioner on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), P21 Executive Board, and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Teacher Prep Commission. She has been a national trainer for AFT (Thinking Mathematics K-2, 3-6, 6-8 Common Core, collaborator and national trainer for Thinking Mathematics 6-8). She currently serves on the Advisory Board of Digital Promise, National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) Executive Board, Fund for Teachers Executive Board, Out Teach Executive Board, Bowie State University and the STAR Program Advisory Board, National Geographic Education Audit Advisory Board, Eddie and Jules Trump Foundation of Israel Advisory Board, the Class Strategic Advisory Board, the Learning Variability Project Advisory Board, Global Teacher Leadership Advisory Board, Teach Plus, and the Learning Policy Institute’s Spencer/Yidan Advisory Committee. Brookins achieved her certification in Adult and Young Adolescent Mathematics in 2003 and renewed it in 2013. She was inducted into the University of Florida Alumni Hall of Fame in 2009, Received the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) “Woodie Flowers” Award in 2016, is a Florida Education Association “Everyday Hero,” and received the association’s Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2013, Brookins was named an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar.

Joe Doctor leads strategy, program, finance, and operations for the National Board. His work is focused on how the National Board can catalyze a highly-skilled, diverse teaching profession through empowering teachers to meet the needs of students and advance their learning. He previously served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Policy, and Special Assistant to the President, leading the development and implementation of the National Board’s strategic plan. He co-authored “Raising the Bar for Teaching” with Jal Mehta, arguing for adapting supports other professions have put in place as a strategy to elevate teaching. Doctor joined the National Board in 2012. Previously, he was at the Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit strategy consulting organization. His work there focused on developing breakthrough strategies for nonprofits, foundations, and public school systems in K-12 education. Doctor has an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Yale University and a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University.

Dr. Chawanna Bethany Chambers is a national award-winning, board-certified educator and accomplished leader with a proven track record of designing and scaling equity-centered initiatives across nonprofits and public education systems. She brings deep expertise in organizational strategy, cross-functional team leadership, program design, and systems-level change—all grounded in a steadfast commitment to student-centered impact.

Chawanna has served in various capacities throughout her career, including as a classroom teacher, department chair, curriculum writer and developer, field researcher, instructional coach, project manager, adjunct instructor, chief academic officer, and deputy superintendent. Her professional contributions include supporting successful educational initiatives and programs with the Texas Education Agency, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Indiana Department of Education, Cleveland Browns Foundation, Equal Opportunity Schools, Walton Family Foundation, Gates Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and other teams. Dr. Chambers has been celebrated locally as New Teacher of the Year and a Principal’s Award recipient and nationally by the National Council for Teachers of English. Chawanna was a class of 2018 New Leaders Council San Antonio fellow, 2019 Leadership SAISD cohort member, and has served on multiple community boards.

Throughout her career, Dr. Chambers has led high-impact efforts to strengthen educator pathways, improve instructional quality, and build capacity within institutions to deliver sustainable outcomes. Whether managing multi-million dollar investments, launching national support programs, or shaping statewide education strategy, she operates with a legacy-driven mindset: to leave systems stronger, more equitable, and more capable of nurturing future generations.

Chawanna is widely recognized for her ability to bring vision to execution, lead with both empathy and precision, and champion transformative change that centers the voices and experiences of those closest to the work. Dr. Chambers holds a Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies specializing in Early Childhood through Grade 4, a Master of Education in Educational Administration: School Leadership, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction.

Marc D’Anjou is the Special Assistant to the President, CEO, and Corporate Secretary. As Special Assistant to the President and CEO, Marc supports the President and CEO in all aspects of the President’s office, maintaining confidentiality and maintaining strong relationships with staff on the President’s behalf. He provides strategic management of the President’s schedule correspondence, raising visibility and enhancing relationships with key external constituencies such as corporate and foundation donors, policymakers, and key stakeholders. As Corporate Secretary, Marc serves as a focal point for communication with and between the Board of Directors to ensure that Board members have the proper advice and resources for discharging their fiduciary duties. He ensures the records of the Board’s actions reflect the proper exercise of those fiduciary duties and is the custodian of the minutes of the Board of Directors’ meetings, committee meetings, and key organizational documents. Marc manages the activities of the Board of Directors, including the developing of meeting agendas and materials, as well as the planning and execution of Board meetings and preparing minutes of meeting proceedings. Marc has over nearly thirty years of experience in government service and working for nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the National Board, Marc worked at the White House as a Staff Assistant to Vice President and Mrs. Gore, a Confidential Assistant at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, and at a nonprofit organization, the Campaign Finance Institute. Marc received a Master of Arts in Political Science from The American University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Western New England University in Springfield, MA.

Bootsie Battle-Holt, NBCT is the Director of Place-Based Initiatives for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Previously, Battle-Holt spent nearly two decades with the Los Angeles Unified School District, most recently as the Secondary Math Coordinator overseeing math instruction across all secondary schools in the west region. Prior to that, she was a TK-12 coordinator tasked with addressing disproportionate achievement outcomes in a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at uplifting achievement for black students. Battle-Holt is frequently contracted to design, develop, and deliver curriculum, and she is a frequent contributor to educational policy and practice conversations about instruction and social justice pedagogy. Battle-Holt has received honors throughout her career, including both Los Angeles Unified and Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year.

Melissa Mays joined the National Board in January 2020 and serves as the Director of Program Management, where she provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management across the National Board’s operational partnership, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, guiding high-impact cross-functional initiatives, and overseeing the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of mission-critical work. Mays is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), and Certified Scrum Master (CSM). She holds a B.A. degree in Government from Georgetown University and a M.S. degree in Information Technology with a certificate in Informatics from the University of Maryland University College.

Danielle Belanger is the Senior Manager, Project Management at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Bringing over a decade of experience in nonprofit management and philanthropy, she has a proven track record of success leading large-scale projects and managing complex budgets. Before joining the National Board, Danielle spent much of her professional life supporting grantmakers and their portfolios of nonprofit partners. During that time, she launched and led the inaugural year of a learning and giving collaborative focused on the intersection of trauma and poverty – a group that is still ongoing. In this work and throughout her career, she has always valued the opportunity to develop deep relationships across organizations to ensure the achievement of myriad, diverse missions, and goals.

Relationship-building has remained a key part of Danielle’s work during her time at the National Board. She first joined NBPTS leading the day-to-day project and budget coordination of the Culturally Sustaining Candidate Support Network – a SEED grant to support and promote teacher diversity, quality, and retention. Leveraging her extensive experience in project management, she now works closely across internal teams to coordinate programs and projects that move strategic priorities forward, scale efforts, and deliver lasting impact.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and History from Franklin & Marshall College. A long-time New Englander, she currently lives in Maine with her partner. When they aren’t hiking or camping, you can find her tending to her native, pollinator-friendly plants, reading a fantasy novel, or enjoying time with friends and their pets!

Dr. Mora Pressley is a passionate educator, advocate, and certified project manager committed to advancing equity in education. As the Manager of the California Black Educator Initiative (CBEI), she leads statewide efforts to increase the number of Black National Board Certified Teachers across California. In this role, Dr. Pressley oversees program implementation, cultivates community partnerships, and provides strategic guidance to regional hubs, ensuring culturally responsive support for Black educator candidates.

Dr. Pressley brings over 15 years of experience as a special education teacher, instructional leader, and professional development facilitator. Her work has focused on dismantling systemic barriers for historically marginalized students, empowering teachers through coaching and leadership development, and uplifting Black educator voices in policy and practice.

Dr. Pressley holds a Ph.D. in Education of Students with Exceptionalities, is PMP-certified, and serves on various equity and advocacy-focused committees. With deep roots in Charleston, South Carolina and a thriving presence in Atlanta, Georgia and California, she is guided by the belief that when Black educators are empowered, student outcomes are elevated.

Lauren Amador is the Senior Associate of Place-Based Initiatives at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She supports the implementation of National Board Certification through locally driven, grant-funded programs, with a focus on advancing equity and supporting educators in high-needs schools. Lauren’s work spans several major initiatives, including EPI SEED, EPI REAP, CSL KIPP, CSLOC ACHIEVE, CSLOC TN LIFT, Permian NBCT, TIME MS GEER, Walton Family Foundation, and now CBEI. Drawing on her background in classroom teaching, instructional coaching, and strategic partnerships, she helps coordinate partner engagement, facilitate candidate support, and contribute to systems that expand access to accomplished teaching. Her work is grounded in data-driven decision-making and a commitment to elevating educators in historically underserved communities.

As Vice President of Certification & Innovation, Lisa Clarke leads and integrates all aspects of the National Board’s certification and innovation portfolio—including certification design and operations, candidate experience, program partnerships, and journey platforms. She plays a critical role in ensuring that National Board Certification remains the gold standard in performance-based teacher assessment while expanding access and deepening educator impact.

Before joining the National Board, Clarke served as Team Lead for the U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching Ambassador Fellows, where she advocated for teacher voice in education policy. A National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescent Young Adult Social Studies-History, she taught social studies in Kent, WA, and Brooklyn, NY, and held multiple leadership roles in the Kent School District, including serving on the Superintendent’s Professional Learning Community and leading curriculum design initiatives.

Clarke was recognized as the World Affairs Council’s 2011 World Educator and was selected as a World Affairs Council Fellow for her efforts to advance global education. She has contributed to the field of teacher leadership and professional learning through service on the Board of the Washington State Council for the Social Studies and as local co-chair for the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference.

Clarke began her career at Rutgers University, where she studied gender and public policy and worked at the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. She holds degrees from Providence College, Rutgers University, and Brooklyn College and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Education Policy and Leadership at American University.

Marcia Foster joined the National Board in August 2013 as Director of New Products and Services. In this role, she leads the design and development of key programs and services—including Accomplished Teaching, Learning, and Schools (ATLAS)—as well as other initiatives that support the National Board’s mission.

Before joining the National Board, Foster served as Product and Marketing Director for PBS Education. There, she oversaw the development of Peer Connection, an online resource library for instructional coaches, mentors, and teacher leaders, and managed PBS TeacherLine, a suite of online professional development courses for PreK–12 educators.

Earlier in her career, Foster taught as an adjunct at colleges and universities in Maryland and Virginia. She also worked as a brand manager for global consumer product companies, including the Campbell Soup Company and Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation.

She currently serves as Senior Director, Journey Products & Platforms where she’s responsible for setting the vision for candidate-facing products.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from Atlanta University.

Dr. Susan Lopez-Aguado is the Senior Director of Certification Design & Development at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She holds bachelor’s degrees in history and English with honors from Stanford University and a doctoral degree in English language and literature from Yale University. After teaching at Yale, Susan worked in educational measurement, first as an English Language Arts test developer at the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ, and later as a principal assessment specialist and project director at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, DC. In 2010, Susan formed Sulobee Consulting to provide clients with project management, meeting facilitation, and technical services across the preK-12 field. Before accepting her current position, she participated in various projects for the National Board as an assessment and standards consultant. Susan currently lives in Washington, DC, with her two cats and office managers, Niles and Roger.

Laura Benedetto is a Director for the Certification & Innovation team. Her work focuses on supporting and growing the connections between National Board Certified Teachers, National Board Networks, districts, schools, and the National Board, creating a community of National Board Champions who help advance the organization’s mission. Previously, she was the Network Manager for the Network to Transform Teaching, a Supporting Effective Educator Development-funded networked improvement community focused on advancing student learning through access to highly effective teachers. With the National Board since 2011, she has held positions across multiple departments. Prior to joining the National Board, she worked in various classroom settings in Connecticut, focusing on alternative education. Benedetto holds a master’s degree in education from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Wheaton College in Norton, MA. A native of New York, she currently lives in Arlington, VA, when not traveling to concerts.

Cheryl Corpus serves as the Director of Program Partners on the Certification and Innovation team at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In this role, she leads the strategic vision and execution of the National Board’s program partner network and candidate support initiatives, with a deep commitment to equity, access, and educator impact. Cheryl oversees systems and partnerships that ensure high-quality support for educators pursuing National Board Certification, while fostering alignment between strategy and implementation across diverse networks.

Since joining the National Board in 2023, Cheryl has brought her expertise in system design, continuous improvement, and strategic planning to elevate the candidate experience and strengthen support ecosystems. She previously served as Director of Candidate Support, Programs, and Practices, where she curated best practices, facilitated professional learning, and championed candidate-centered design.

Cheryl’s career spans leadership roles in education nonprofits, school administration, and central office leadership. She has led educator networks, coached teams, and built inclusive systems that reflect the cultural and professional diversity of the teaching profession. Cheryl holds a B.A. in Education from Central Michigan University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of Colorado.

An avid professional learner, Cheryl finds joy in traveling, attending performances, and sharing daily adventures with her family and friends.

Andrea Hajek joined the National Board in October 2011 as a director of educator engagement. Over the years, her portfolio has included engaging with and mobilizing the NBCT community and NBCT Networks, leading the field test of the assessment redesign, and contributing to the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) development. In January 2018, she became the director of assessment operations. In this role, she leads the ongoing progress and effectiveness of multiple assessment operations activities with particular attention to scoring and quality assurance. A career educator, Hajek achieved National Board certification in Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language in 2000 and renewed her certificate in 2009 and 2019. She was the first National Board Certified Teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools to achieve certification in this area. She has taught English as a New Language, Language Arts, and Spanish in California, Florida, and Hawai`i. She has also been a trainer of assessors, validator, and content expert for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Hajek developed and institutionalized a candidate support program for educators seeking to become Board-certified in Hawai`i. She also taught graduate-level courses at the National University. Hajek holds a bachelor’s in elementary education and an M.Ed. focusing on ESL from the University of Mar del Plata in Argentina. She was featured in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2006 and 2007.

From Brooklyn by way of Trinidad, Dana Nurse is a former NYC high school special education teacher and a fierce advocate for decolonial and liberatory design methodologies in education. They hold a BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing and an MS.Ed in Special Education. Dana is a sometimes poet, an Afrofuturist nerd, and likes dachshunds a little bit too much.

As the Director, Candidate Support & Experience Jaci works to ensure the National Board candidate experience is grounded in equitable practices and cultivates a sense of belonging for all educators. She joined the National Board in March 2021. Jacquelyn achieved certification in 2019 in Adolescent/Young Adulthood English/Language Arts ( maintained in 2024) and was an educator in the ELA and Social Studies classroom for 13 years, primarily in the co-taught setting. During that time, she also served as department chair and led professional development on DEI initiatives, student-centered classrooms, and innovation. She co-founded the Latin American Student Association and Bridging the Gap, a mentorship program for BIPOC middle school students transitioning to high school. Jaci lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, senior dog, Romeo, and is looking forward to her new role as girl mom.

As Senior Manager of Certification Design and Development, Dianna leads the National Board work in overseeing critical functional areas, including standards revision and development. She shepherds the Certification Council, educator working groups, standards committees; and drives development and review of standards-related publications.

A National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence, English Language Arts, Minor honed her craft in classrooms in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama. In her time in Hoover, she served as an English/language arts teacher, literacy and English Language Learner (ELL) interventionist, curriculum specialist; and a college adjunct in curriculum and instruction at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa). She also holds a Master of Education in English Language Arts, Instructional Leadership certification, and an Educational Specialist (Ed.S) degree in English Language Arts. Dianna has served as a blogger for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and facilitated professional development with the National Math & Science Initiative (NMSI), where she designed and developed content and eLearning experiences for educators nationwide. She has also served as an education consultant with Alabama’s A+ College Ready organization, where she developed curricula and trained educators in the latest-best practice teaching strategies. She has been active in the National Board communities, serving as a board member with Alabama’s NBCT Network, as National Board Core Connections Webinar facilitator, and as an educational consultant with the Alabama A&M University/University of Alabama at Huntsville Regional Inservice Center, where she facilitated professional development workshops and seminars asynchronously for educators pursuing National Board Certification. In addition to being district nominee for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year with Hoover City Schools, she was recognized as a 2020 Red Mountain Writing Fellow (affiliate of the National Writing Project,) and a 2021 TEDx Birmingham Education Fellow. She most recently completed certification in Design Thinking and Innovation at Harvard Business School.

Since joining the National Board in 2001, Melissa Villareal has played a key role within the National Board assessment team. She currently works within Certification Operations, overseeing projects and functions advancing the integrity and accessibility of the certification process through effective assessment operations. Villareal is responsible for planning, managing, and executing certification operations projects and processes, with a strong focus on collaboration, equity, and quality. Villareal takes great pleasure in her work, offering many opportunities to support accomplished teachers. Villareal holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Strayer University. She is the proud parent of two children.

As Senior Manager, Journey Products & Platforms, Caitlin Wilson serves as a member of the ATLAS team, where she provides training and support for ATLAS users and leads ongoing efforts to increase awareness and implementation of the ATLAS library. Caitlin also supports the development, improvement, and implementation of digital tools and services that support educators’ National Board certification journeys, connecting teams and strategy.

Caitlin has dedicated her career to supporting innovation and equity in teaching and learning. She started her career as a classroom teacher in Marietta, Georgia. Caitlin has expertise in leading teacher professional development, improvement coaching, and designing and implementing networked improvement communities focused on the following topics: reducing the special education teacher shortage, recruiting and retaining men of color to the teaching profession, and increasing the number of Board-certified teachers across the country. Cailin also has expertise in federal grant management. Caitlin holds a master’s degree in teaching from Georgia College and State University. She earned an undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Georgia.

Arlen Hancock is the Senior Associate of Program Partners, where he optimizes internal procedures, builds relations with external clients, and organizes events for the department. Arlen holds an MA in Theatre Education and an MFA in Theatre Education and Applied Theatre from Emerson College. He is also a licensed teacher and has designed and implemented arts curricula at the public school level for three years. Before joining the National Board, Arlen enjoyed being an educator, a performer, and a choreographer.

Jen Keller is a Senior Associate on the Certification & Innovation Team at the National Board. She provides essential administrative support to the Vice President of C&I and contributes to the team’s collaborative planning, organization, and operations.

Jen holds a Master’s degree in Literacy Education from SUNY Geneseo and a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Florida-Go Knights! Her diverse professional background includes experience as an elementary educator, property manager, and administrative assistant.

Jen brings a strong commitment to team collaboration and is dedicated to supporting the development of inclusive, high-impact programs at the National Board. She takes great pride in knowing her work supports opportunities for every student to be taught by an accomplished teacher.

Ben McKinney is the Senior Associate of Journey Products at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, where he leads customer support and product operations for the ATLAS platform. He manages end-to-end support for educators and partners, ensuring a seamless platform experience through smart systems, clear communication, and agile workflows. Ben brings sharp skills in customer service, data analysis, and process improvement—always with an eye on usability and impact. Outside the office, he’s a curious traveler and lifelong learner.

Tamara Dudley joined the National Board in April of 2022 as Vice President of Advocacy & Communications. Tamara previously worked for the National Policing Institute (NPI), where she spearheaded organizational-wide marketing, communications, and development initiatives, translating research into practice. Tamara has implemented creative strategies and process improvements for universities and alumni associations, revamping departments and leading enterprise systems conversions. She led membership and marketing departments, increasing engagement, retention, and growth.

Tamara has also developed community engagement programs focused on deepened relationships and inspired individuals to support education, income, and health initiatives. She achieved this while simultaneously executing award-winning revenue-generating campaigns. She has 20 years of non-profit management expertise, both nationally and internationally, having worked in and/or overseen marketing, strategic planning, communications, development, events, business development, member services, and public relations functions in various large and small organizations. On the international front, Tamara worked to raise awareness of the plight of orphaned and impoverished children in Egypt. She helped to deepen the brand awareness of the Valuable Girl Project and the Serve-To-Learn Programs. As a former Director of Development and Communications, she collaborated successfully with politicians, dignitaries, and industry leaders to support youth programs and secure appropriations for education programs. She has also trained industry professionals on her recruitment, retention, and growth best practices and managed 250 workplace-giving corporate accounts while helping organizations to grow in their corporate social responsibility and community engagement efforts. She strongly advocates data and analysis-driven efforts and performance management, including return on investment analysis.

Tamara has raised nearly $30 million in funding over her career. Most recently, she collaboratively helped to secure a multimillion-dollar gift from the Mackenzie Scott Foundation. Tamara has received numerous awards and recognition from the Virginia Public Relations Society and CASE, including Capital Merit Awards and an Award of Excellence. Tamara is deeply enthusiastic about inspiring a generation of youth with the courage to transform the next. Tamara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and serves on the Board of Directors for Zoe Freedom Center.

Michelle Accardi is a National Board Certified Teacher and the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. A former elementary Special Needs teacher, she brings deep expertise in education, policy, and nonprofit leadership to her work advancing accomplished teaching nationwide.

Stacey Hicks serves as Senior Director of Strategic Engagement, focused on growing teacher and stakeholder commitment to National Board Certification through targeted engagement, communicating the value of National Board Certification for educators, students, and communities. Before joining the staff at National Board, Hicks served as the Project Director of the Network to Transform Teaching with the Arizona K12 Center, where she oversaw a grant focused on two objectives: increasing the number of National Board Certified Teachers and increasing the number of NBCTs serving as instructional leaders. In 2013, Hicks achieved National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist teaching with the Paradise Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, Arizona, and maintained her certification in 2023. Hicks taught third grade as a Teacher Innovator at the Pinnacle Peak Center for Teacher Development, acting as an exemplar observation classroom for the use of teacher development using live observation, video broadcasting, and collaborative telepresence. She taught for seven years in Arizona and two years before that in Ohio, where she was born and raised. Hicks has a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Kent State University, Ohio.

As a policy director, Sarah Pinsky supports the National Board’s state and federal policy efforts by analyzing federal and state legislation, writing policy memos and reports, and assisting the government relations team in organizing federal and state policy events. Pinsky comes to the National Board from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) where she managed state and federal policy efforts on issues related to teacher preparation.

Pinsky earned her master’s degree in public policy and her bachelor’s in government and economics from the University of Virginia. Pinsky currently attends The George Washington University’s Law School’s evening program.

During her time at National Board, Danielle has run programming connected to the pursuit of certification for early career teachers as well as finding opportunities to elevate the candidate experience.

Previously, Danielle has worked in state induction and mentoring, taught Kindergarten, and worked as a K-2 Arts Integration Specialist.

She became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2014, and maintained certification in 2023. She holds a Bachelors in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish. As well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology with an emphasis on adult learning and training. She is also a certified yoga teacher and social emotional learning facilitator.

Danielle has served as the President of her local education association, a Candidate Support Provider for National Board Candidates, and was a 2015-2017 Hope Street Group National Teacher Fellow. Danielle has been recognized as an Emerging Leader with ASCD and an Influence Leader. She was also a Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council member from 2016-2018.

She enjoys volunteering, attending concerts, traveling, and practicing yoga!

Zach is responsible for both the organization’s federal policy and state policy expansion efforts. In his role, he empowers NBCTs to be policy advocates, builds relationships with key policymakers, and drives organizational policy strategy. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) and as co-chair of the Coalition for Teaching Quality (CTQ).

Before the National Board, he worked at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), where he managed federal government relations on education, the workforce, and the teacher pipeline.

Prior to these roles, Zach worked at Bloomberg in several cities and capacities, including conducting pro bono consulting work for the San Francisco Unified School District and serving as a co-chair and member of the organization’s LGBTQ+ and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force.

Zach earned a master’s degree in public policy from George Washington University, concentrating in education. During that time, he completed an internship and capstone project with the Learning Policy Institute related to federal strategies to alleviate the national teacher shortage. After completing his bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Oregon and studying in Brazil, he interned for now-retired Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA).

Zach enjoys sports, travel, cooking, and mixology outside of work.

As a seasoned communications, marketing, and nonprofit professional, Tamara leads with experience and passion. With a diverse background spanning over 22 years, she has honed her skills in crafting compelling narratives, developing strategic marketing campaigns, and driving impactful initiatives within the nonprofit, education, and transportation sectors. Tamara is known for effectively communicating complex ideas with clarity and empathy through engaging digital content, persuasive speeches, or powerful storytelling. She thrives in collaborative environments and is adept at building solid relationships with stakeholders, donors, and community partners to advance the organization’s mission and goals. With a deep understanding of nonprofits’ challenges and opportunities, Tamara is committed to making a difference and creating positive change. She combines creativity, innovation, and strategic thinking to drive meaningful results and inspire others to join the cause. Outside of her professional pursuits, Tamara is actively involved in her church, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and other noble causes. A firm believer in the ripple effect of kindness, she’s on a quest to leave a sparkly trail of goodness in her community and way beyond!

John joined our team in 2023 as the Senior Manager, Strategic Engagement. In this role, John leads and enhances targeted stakeholder engagement to build relationships and grow interest and commitment to National Board Certification.

Before joining the National Board, John ran a consulting business, helping companies create internship opportunities for minority college students; he also worked on the Chicago Innovation Team for OneGoal and served 17 years in the Chicago Public Schools as a National Board Certified social studies teacher. John is also an adjunct professor at the DePaul University College of Education, teaching the next generation of great teachers. Hopefully, they will all become National Board Certified. John is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, where he spent most of his childhood playing outside, and as such, is a great baseball, backpacking, and beach reading enthusiast. Currently, John and his family live in the Chicago suburbs.

Thea is the Senior Manager of Policy & Research at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, where she leads strategic research and policy initiatives aimed at amplifying the impact of accomplished teaching. With more than 25 years of experience across K–12 education, higher education leadership, and national reform efforts, she is deeply committed to advancing equity, evidence-based practices, and systemic change.

In this role, Thea drives a portfolio of research and storytelling strategies that shape policy, enhance strategic partnerships, and propel the National Board’s mission to elevate the teaching profession and improve student outcomes. She previously served as Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, where she led multiple grant initiatives and cross-sector collaborations to expand and support the pipeline of National Board Certified Teachers nationwide.

Thea is a published author, curriculum designer, and former dean and professor. She has secured and managed more than $5 million in grant funding, developed educator preparation programs across multiple institutions, and advised national organizations on equity-centered leadership development. Her work continues to shape the educator workforce through policy innovation, research translation, and a relentless focus on quality teaching for every student.

Thea holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction – Literacy Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Education in Elementary Education & Gifted Education from William Carey University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Tougaloo College.

Shelby Beck has over 14 years of experience in nonprofit and program management. She has gained experience in fundraising, event management, social media marketing, and brand consistency throughout her career. Armed with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Radford University, Shelby’s not just about business buzzwords. When she’s not working, you’ll catch her ruling the great outdoors – hiking, camping, boating, and reeling in the big fish.

Claire joined the National Board in 2023 as part of the Margins to Center grant and is now a part of the Marketing & Communications team at the organization. Before joining the National Board, Claire was a Pantry and Seasonal Program Manager at Metrocrest Services, a nonprofit located in the Dallas Metroplex, with her work focused primarily on food security within the community. She supported the organization’s expansion as it grew client demand by 400% during the pandemic and was responsible for program management and growth. Claire is a strong believer in the power of music education and has been a private piano instructor for over eight years, with a current studio at the Coppell Conservatory. Claire holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Applied Music from Baylor University. She lives in Dallas, TX, with her German Shepherd, Bonnie. She enjoys taking Bonnie on long walks and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Andra Smith facilitates and coordinates departmental-level communication, administration, and research as the Senior Associate for the Communications and Engagement Team. She holds a PhD and MPH in behavioral science and health promotion. With over a decade of experience in public health research and practice, Dr. Smith is passionate about quality improvement, workforce development, systems change, policy, and advocacy.

Dr. Catrice Reese is a dynamic and mission-driven senior executive with over 15 years of experience leading strategic operations, people-centered initiatives, and systems transformation in national education and nonprofit organizations. As Vice President of People, Operations, Finance & Technology at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, she oversees the organization’s internal infrastructure, ensuring finance, HR, and technology systems are aligned, efficient, and equitable, powering the mission to advance accomplished teaching for every student.

Known for her agile leadership and thoughtful stewardship, Dr. Reese has developed and scaled operational and cultural frameworks that have saved organizations over $1 million, while strengthening staff engagement and building inclusive, high-performing cultures. Prior to joining the National Board, she served as Managing Director of Operations and Employee Experience at Gradient Learning, where she built the HR, Finance, and Operations functions from the ground up in a fully remote environment and launched the organization’s learning and leadership development arm.

Her career spans both nonprofit and higher education sectors, including leadership roles at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, where she led state-wide student success transformation initiatives and built virtual student service infrastructures across 16 colleges.

Catrice brings a unique blend of strategic insight, operational excellence, and people-first leadership. She holds a Doctor of Education from Western Kentucky University, an MBA from Sullivan University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Transylvania University.

Dr. Reese is passionate about systems that enable people to flourish, and believes in the power of culture, data, and storytelling to move missions forward.

Michele Blasey joined the National Board in June 2023 as Controller. She is responsible for the development, administration, and implementation of accounting systems that meet the organization’s financial and legal reporting requirements. In addition, Michele strategizes with leadership in the development of financial strategies to ensure alignment with the National Board’s organizational goals and priorities.

Prior to joining the National Board, Michele held finance roles at a foundation focused on advancing racial equity in education in New England, a continuing medical education company, and a national nonprofit supporting lived and legal equality for LGBTQ families. In these positions, she managed day-to-day financial operations and supported organizational growth through sound financial practices.

Michele holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Western Governors University. She is based in Pittsburgh, PA.

Alisha Ghosh, MHA, CDM serves as the Director of Learning & Belonging at the National Board, where she leads organization-wide strategies to strengthen professional development, employee engagement, and overall effectiveness. She oversees initiatives such as staff development programs, all-staff retreats, and engagement surveys that foster a collaborative and growth-oriented workplace culture. Her work ensures that learning systems and practices are aligned with the National Board’s mission and long-term impact goals.

Alisha joined the National Board in June 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management, a Master’s degree in Health Administration, and certifications in management and training.

Before joining the National Board, Alisha worked at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, where she supported student learning and led professional development programming for faculty and staff. She also directed a department at Jersey City Medical Center, where she advanced learning initiatives and helped the institution earn national recognition for inclusive practices.

Alex is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the realm of databases and cloud-based solutions. As a former Salesforce consultant who repaired and grew Salesforce instances for over a dozen non-profit organizations, he brings a wealth of expertise to the National Board. Committed to driving organizational success through innovative solutions, he harnesses the power of Salesforce to streamline business processes and enhance overall operational efficiency.

Evangeline Stewart is the Senior Manager of People & Operations at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Since joining the organization in 2005, she has grown from administrative roles to an experienced HR and operations professional, bringing nearly two decades of experience across development, operations, and people-centered functions.

In her current role, Evangeline leads key human resources initiatives, including onboarding, benefits administration, payroll coordination, employee engagement, and internal systems management. She plays a vital role in shaping inclusive practices and streamlining operations across the organization.

Outside of work, Evangeline enjoys baking, doing DIY projects, volunteering in her community, and spending time with family and friends. She brings the same creativity and care to her personal life as she does to her work.

With many years of experience in Database and Web technologies, he currently serves as Manager of Data & Analytics here at the National Board, a role he has held since 2022. He leads data strategy and drives transformation through cloud-based solutions, with deep expertise in query optimization, data transformation, and automating complex data flows. He is proficient in Azure SQL, AWS, Salesforce, and a wide range of Microsoft technologies.

Prior joining the National Board, he successfully integrating various websites with enterprise content management systems like Sitecore with CRMs such as Salesforce for clients across diverse sectors. Throughout his career, he has delivered scalable, high-performance solutions across industries including healthcare, finance, education and research, retail, and energy.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and has earned numerous certifications in cloud platforms, database technologies, and enterprise systems.

Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and sightseeing, and actively participates in community initiatives—believing in the value of giving back and staying connected beyond the workplace.

Milad Nazar is an accomplished financial leader with over a decade of experience steering accounting and finance operations across the government, nonprofit, and defense sectors. Since joining the National Board in 2020, he has risen from Accounting Manager to Senior Manager of Accounting & Finance, overseeing critical functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, and team leadership. Under his guidance, the finance team has achieved new levels of accuracy, efficiency, and strategic alignment with organizational goals.

Before his tenure at NBPTS, Nazar served as an Accounts Receivable Specialist at ITILITY LLC, a top-tier defense contractor, where he managed complex government-funded projects for the U.S. Army and the Ministry of Defense. His expertise in contract financial management and compliance has been instrumental in the successful execution of multi-million-dollar logistics and services agreements.

Committed to innovation in finance, Nazar earned a FinTech Professional Certification from George Washington University (2021) and is pursuing QuickBooks Online Pro Advisor certification to further modernize accounting practices. His technical proficiency, combined with a sharp strategic mindset, enables him to bridge traditional financial management with emerging technologies.

Nazar holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Accounting) from Kardan University. Beyond his professional pursuits, he prioritizes discipline and clarity through fitness, believing a strong mind and body fuel leadership excellence.

Ashley Brown has 10+ years of experience in the administrative and property management fields. She facilitates and coordinates departmental-level communication and administration as the Senior Associate for the Technology Team. Ashley brings a strong commitment to team collaboration and is dedicated to supporting the development data management and software development support at the National Board. She contributes to defining product requirements and ensuring the quality and performance of IT systems across the organization.

Outside of work, Ashley’s time is spent with her kid’s sports and extracurricular activities as well as traveling with her husband and taking on new adventures. Ashley loves warm weather and pool water.

Daniel Izzo joined the National Board in 2024 after over a dozen years in the classroom where he was a High School Social Studies teacher. Throughout that time, he primarily taught Psychology and was a member of various committees that dealt with teacher development, equity in student programming, culture and climate, process improvement, data analysis, coaching, and other similar groups. He holds a Bachelor’s in Education from DePaul University, a Master’s in Educational Business Administration from the American College of Education, and a professional certification in Data Analysis. Outside of work, Dan loves spending time with his family and friends, taking his kids on bike rides, watching movies and listening to music, and working with his hands doing various woodworking projects.