NBPTS

Staff

We’re proud to work with an amazing group of people who have a wide range of interests, backgrounds and experiences, including several Board-certified teachers and other education professional. While our office is based in Arlington, you’ll find many of us in various sites across the country working with partners, networks and a variety of stakeholders to elevate accomplished teaching at the national, state and district level.

Michelle Accardi, NBCT

Director, Policy and Advocacy

Michelle Accardi, NBCT

Director, Policy and Advocacy

Michelle Accardi is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/Exceptional Needs Specialist and the Director of Policy and Partnerships for the National Board. Prior to joining the staff of the National Board in 2011, she was an elementary school teacher in Albuquerque Public Schools. She achieved National Board certification in 2005 in Exceptional Needs. Accardi worked in team taught and self contained classrooms with a focus on students with behavioral differences. In addition, she was active with the New Mexico NBCT Network. She enjoyed interacting with fellow teachers as a Candidate Support Provider and as a Dossier Assessor. Her work included consulting for several BIE Schools. Prior to work in education, she was a private sector attorney.

Accardi holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Laura Benedetto

Senior Manager, Engagement and Mobilization

Laura Benedetto

Senior Manager, Engagement and Mobilization

Laura Benedetto is a program manager for the National Board’s strategy team. Benedetto’s work focuses on managing federally and privately funded grant programs that are designed to advance student learning through access to highly effective teachers. She joined the National Board in 2011 as an administrative assistant and has held positions that supported the work of multiple departments.

Prior to joining the National Board, Benedetto enjoyed being in the classroom. She had an opportunity to work in a variety of settings in Connecticut, with a focus 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 with her pug, Harley.

Peggy Brookins, NBCT

President and CEO

Peggy Brookins, NBCT

President and CEO

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 Barack 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 and where she served as director and as a 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, and the Class Strategic Advisory Board.

Brookins achieved her certification in Adult and Young Adolescent Mathematics in 2003 and renewed 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.

Lisa Clarke, NBCT

Senior Director, Candidate Experience

Lisa Clarke, NBCT

Senior Director, Candidate Experience

Lisa Clarke is a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescent Young Adult Social Studies-History and the Senior Director of Candidate Experience.

Prior to joining the staff of the National Board, she was the Team Lead for the U.S. Department of Education Teaching Ambassador Fellows. As a fellow, Clarke learned about education policy and advocated to have teachers’ wisdom at the policy table.

Clarke taught social studies in Kent, WA and Brooklyn, NY. She held a variety of leadership positions in the Kent School District, including serving on the Superintendent Professional Learning Community, assisting with curriculum development, and acting as a Social Studies curricular leader. In 2011, she was honored as the World Affairs Council 2011 World Educator and was chosen to be a World Affairs Council Fellow based on her work to promote and improve global education.

She came to teaching after six years at Rutgers University, where she studied gender and public policy and worked at the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL). Clarke is a graduate of Providence College and holds Master’s degrees from Rutgers University and Brooklyn College.

Marc D'Anjou

Corporate Secretary & Special Assistant to the President & CEO

Marc D'Anjou

Corporate Secretary & Special Assistant to the President & CEO

Marc D’Anjou is the Corporate Secretary. In this position, he performs all duties related to the office of secretary of a corporation. From time to time, such duties may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Directors.

Specific duties include drafting and maintaining the official records and minutes of the organization, and serving as the liaison for communication with and between the board of directors and senior management, especially on corporate governance matters. D’Anjou also ensures that Board members have the resources and counsel for discharging their fiduciary duties.

D’Anjou has nearly twenty years of experience in government service and working for nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the National Board, he worked at the White House as a staff assistant to Vice President and Mrs. Gore, at the U.S. Department of Education as a Confidential Assistant in the Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, and at a nonprofit organization, the Campaign Finance Institute.

He holds 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.

Dorian Davis

Controller

Dorian Davis

Controller

As the Controller, Dorian Davis is responsible for overseeing and directing the accounting operations of the organization. He leads the accounting, treasury, and internal control functions including financial reporting, accounts receivable, and accounts payable.

Davis is a finance and accounting professional with over twelve years of broad and diversified experience in private, public, multinational, and non-profit organizations. He has significant experience in financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, and risk management. He is an expert in evaluating and improving processes to strengthen internal controls and compliance. Additionally, he has extensive experience in rapid growth environments, business, and system integration along with exceptional success in cash management.

Prior to the National Board, Davis was a consultant supporting real estate and non-profit organizations. During that time, he had oversight responsibility for accounting functions ensuring regulatory compliance, setting and enforcing accounting policies, maintaining financial records, and developing world-class financial best practices.

Before relocating to the Washington, DC Metro area, he was a Senior Financial Analyst on the Sale Finance team with Medtronic, where he had responsibilities spanning three business units with U.S. sales of over $800M. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Controller with Interstate Blood Bank. He has previously held accounting and finance roles at CBRE, Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA), and Flextronics (FLEX).

Davis earned both a Master of Science in Accounting with a concentration in Controllership and a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. He is also a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Jeff Derrick

Director, FInance

Jeff Derrick

Director, FInance

Jeff Derrick joined the National Board in July 2014 as the Director of Finance. He leads the financial planning, budgeting, and management reporting for operational and program performance, and the financial systems to support National Board operations.

Prior to joining the National Board, Derrick spent the past 23 years in the government contracting industry functioning in multiple financial roles. Most recently, during 15 years at Booz Allen Hamilton, Derrick provided strategic financial planning and analysis for several areas, managing the financial strategies for budgets ranging from $70 to $250 million. Derrick’s financial expertise lies in planning, reporting, modeling, forecasting and analysis, indirect rate management/analysis, risk analysis, and proposal pricing.

Derrick earned his MBA in finance from Virginia Tech, and bachelor’s degrees in business administration and management science from Geneva College. He has two daughters and a son, and is into all things Nationals, classic rock, spy novels and home brewing.

Joe Doctor

Chief Operation Officer

Joe Doctor

Chief Operation Officer

Joe Doctor leads strategy development as well as programmatic operations for the National Board. His work on these fronts is focused on how the National Board can strengthen the professional career continuum for teachers and advance the teaching profession. He previously served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Policy, as well as Special Assistant to the President, leading the development and implementation of the National Board’s strategic plan. He coauthored “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 a manager 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.

Carol Ezzelle

Senior Director, Psychometrics

Carol Ezzelle

Senior Director, Psychometrics

Carol Ezzelle works with the development and operations of the certification assessment, ensuring it meets or exceeds testing standards. She provides guidance and oversight to project staff on assessment-related research, policies, issues, and inquiries. In this role, Ezzelle oversees psychometric projects, develops technical procedures and documents, and collaborates with staff and partners on issues involving the certification program.

Before joining the National Board, Ezzelle worked at GED Testing Service, Harcourt Educational Measurement (now Pearson) and Professional Examination Service. Ezzelle has a doctorate in psychometrics from Fordham University in the Bronx, NY.

Jacquelyn Fabian, NBCT

Senior Manager, State Strategy and Mobilization

Jacquelyn Fabian, NBCT

Senior Manager, State Strategy and Mobilization

Jacquelyn joined National Board in March 2021. Jaci achieved certification in 2019 in Adolescent/Young Adulthood English/Language Arts and was an educator in the ELA and Social Studies classroom for 14 years, primarily in the co-taught setting. During that time, she also served as department chair, led professional development on DEI initiatives and 1:1 device implementation, and co-founded the Latin American Student Association and Bridging the Gap, a mentorship program for BIPOC middle school students transitioning to high school. She holds a B.A. in English Education from Northern Illinois University and an M.Ed in Education Leadership from Benedictine University.

Tami Fitzgerald, NBCT

Director, Engagement and Mobilization

Tami Fitzgerald, NBCT

Director, Engagement and Mobilization

Tami’s primary work at the National Board is supporting the National Board Networks, mobilizing NBCTs and developing teacher leadership across the country. Prior to this, Tami served two years as a Teaching Ambassador Fellow for the US Department of Education. As a fellow, she conducted outreach to authentically represent teachers’ voices in order to inform federal education conversation and policy with focus on professional development, teacher leadership, rural education, and testing and accountability.

Tami spent the previous 32 years teaching high school science at West Muskingum High School in Ohio. She was also an Educational Consultant for the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center and has been an adjunct professor at Muskingum University where she taught a variety of education courses.

During her years of teaching, Tami received numerous teacher awards including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Top Ten Educator of the Year. Locally, she has been awarded the American Red Cross Hometown Education Hero award and several Outstanding Educator and Teacher of the Year awards.

Tami has been a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescent Young Adult Science since 1999. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Masters of Arts in Education, both from Muskingum University.

Marcia Foster

Director, Products and Services

Marcia Foster

Director, Products and Services

Marcia Foster joined the National Board August 2013 as the Director of New Products and Services. In this role, Foster manages design and development of key programs and services for Accomplished Teaching, Learning and Schools (ATLAS) and other new products and services focused on supporting the National Board’s mission.

Prior to joining the National Board, Foster was the product and marketing director for PBS’ Education products. In this role she led the development of Peer Connection, an online resource library for instructional coaches, mentors and teacher leaders. She also managed PBS TeacherLine’s online professional development courses for PreK-12 teachers. Foster has taught as an adjunct at Maryland and Virginia colleges and universities. She began her career as a brand manager for multinational consumer product companies, including Campbell Soup Company and Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation.

Foster earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and master’s degree in business from Atlanta University.

Janet Haber

Manager, Engagement and Mobilization

Janet Haber

Manager, Engagement and Mobilization

Janet Haber joined the National Board in May 2011 and brought with her the project organizational and financial skills she acquired from more than 20 years of supporting both federal and foundation funded projects. She has strong project management experience including maintaining records and budgets to ensure all are on track per contract specifications. Prior to joining NBPTS, Haber worked with an educational research corporation where she acquired a strong background in education programming and support including preparing materials for workshops, in-house meetings, proposal and budget support, tallying teacher/student/parent evaluations and preparing final reports and required deliverables. Haber professionally handles sensitive and confidential materials and is adapt at managing fast paced, time sensitive workloads.

Andrea Hajek, NBCT

Director, Assessment

Andrea Hajek, NBCT

Director, Assessment

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 quality assurance and improving the candidate experience.

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 National University.

Hajek holds a bachelor’s in elementary education and an M.Ed. with a focus 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.

Kristin Hamilton, NBCT

Vice President, Standards and Assessment

Kristin Hamilton, NBCT

Vice President, Standards and Assessment

As Vice President, Standards and Assessment, Kristin Hamilton leads the National Board’s work to maintain accomplished teaching standards and certify teachers who meet these standards. This work includes standards revision; assessment design, development, and operations; and collaboration with partner organizations to advocate and create pathways for a standards- and credential-based professional continuum.

Hamilton is a renewed National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescence through Young Adulthood/English Language Arts. When she practiced in the classroom, she taught high school language arts in Prince William County, Virginia. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds an M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, where she has taught undergraduate pre-service teachers. Her research focuses on teachers’ experiences of teacher leadership.

Glowena Harrison

Manager, ATLAS

Glowena Harrison

Manager, ATLAS

Glowena Harrison currently manages the Accomplished Teaching, Learning and Schools (ATLAS) Program, providing technical support to the program and clients while also serving as the National Board’s meeting planner.

After thirteen years with the U.S. Department of Education and two years with the Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy, Harrison joined the National Board’s staff on January 1, 1988 as one of the first hired employees. In her twenty-five years on staff, Harrison has served in various supportive positions. She served as the office manager while providing administrative support to the Director of Standards in the development of the original standards committees and the National Board Standards and the Director of Government Relations in securing congressional support and funding. In recent years she has managed the Candidate Support Program, Candidate Subsidy Program, the National Board Certification Disqualification Process, and the National Board Certification Certificate Process.

Stacey Hicks, NBCT

Director, State Strategy and Partnerships

Stacey Hicks, NBCT

Director, State Strategy and Partnerships

Stacey Hicks serves as Director of Outreach and Engagement focusing on recruitment, communication, and principal stakeholder groups.

Prior to joining the staff at National Board, Hicks served as the NT3 Project Director with the Arizona K12 Center, where she oversaw the implementation of the Network to Transform Teaching (NT3) award from the National Board. The grant focused on two main objectives: increasing the number of National Board Certified Teachers increasing the number of NBCTs serving as instructional leaders.

In 2013, Hicks achieved National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist teaching for Paradise Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 taught for two years prior to 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.

April Jones

Director, Candidate Support Community

April Jones

Director, Candidate Support Community

As Director of Candidate Support Community, April Jones works to build relationships across the candidate support community. She collaborates with leaders and facilitators across the country to foster a candidate-centric, improvement-minded culture in the design and execution of candidates’ experiences both to and through the National Board certification process. She elevates our candidate and stakeholder experience by creating structures and processes to deepen stakeholder relationships with one another, scale successful program practices and build a community of support among stakeholders.

Jones joined the National Board in 2007 and has worked in various departments including Communications, Finance, the Office of the President and Outreach where she assisted in the rebranding campaign, worked to streamline contract and scholarship processes, provided support for the Teaching & Learning Conference and managed partnerships with various key stakeholders to increase opportunity for support of Board certification.

Jones is a graduate of Christopher Newport University in early childhood psychology and enjoys volunteering, great food, fitness and party planning.

Richard Klein

Director, Communications

Richard Klein

Director, Communications

As Director of Communications, Richard Klein is responsible for advancing awareness of the important role that Board Certification plays in enhancing teacher performance and student achievement. He leads communications and media relations for the Board. He joined the National Board in November 2015.

From 1994-2000, Klein was a classroom teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. He taught English as part of an innovative inter-disciplinary program known as Project Delta; he also taught journalism, leading the school’s publications to national awards and recognition.

Prior to coming to the National Board, Klein held leadership roles in marketing and communications at AstraZeneca, Mercer, Bechtel, America Online and Capital One. He earned his BA in communications and M.Ed. in secondary education, both from the George Washington University.

Alexandra Mane

Vice President, Development

Alexandra Mane

Vice President, Development

As Vice President of Development, Alexandra Mane cultivates and stewards fundraising relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations that support the National Board’s mission to ensure every student is taught by accomplished teachers.

Mane has more than fourteen years of fundraising experience for nonprofit organizations dedicated to the arts, education, and nature. She is a strong advocate for the importance of education in providing opportunity to all, especially for students in marginalized communities. Most recently she served as the National Director of Development for The Posse Foundation, where she managed a portfolio of 75 major donors and more than 25 corporate and foundation relationships to achieve the organization’s eight-figure revenue goals.

Mane was selected for a Coro Leadership New York Fellowship and holds a bachelor of arts from SUNY College at Old Westbury. She is a member of the New York Advisory Council of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and an advisory board member of the DeAlmas Women’s Institute.

Melissa Mays

Director, Project Management

Melissa Mays

Director, Project Management

Melissa Mays joined the National Board in January 2020 and serves as the Director, Project Management where she provides day-to-day leadership and management across the full scope of the National Board’s relationship with its operational partner. Mays is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and 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 Global College.

Benjamin McKinney

ATLAS Data Entry Coordinator

Benjamin McKinney

ATLAS Data Entry Coordinator

Ben McKinney joined the National Board in 2021 and serves as an ATLAS Data Entry Coordinator. He is responsible for managing ATLAS customer contracts, customer support, marketing, trial access and other critical aspects of the website.
Prior to joining the National Board, Ben worked in Accounts Receivable at Shift4 Payments and Apartments.com. He has 4 years of experience in accounting and 4 years of experience in the telecommunications industry as a project specialist.

Ben studied economics and project management at the University of Maryland. In his spare time, he loves to play soccer, guitar, and spend time with family and friends.

Milad Nazar

Senior Associate, Accounting

Milad Nazar

Senior Associate, Accounting

Milad Nazar joined the National Board in 2020 and serves as a Staff Accountant. He is responsible for performing duties related to accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other financial accounting duties.

Prior to joining the National Board, Nazar worked in Accounts Receivable at a defense contractor, ITILITY LLC. He has a decade of successful experience in project management and progressive accounting experience for-profit, non-profit, and government organizations. He has supported multiple Logistics and Services contracts up to completion for the Government of Afghanistan that was funded by the Ministry of Defense & U.S. Army since 2007.

He is a strong believer in the power of positive thinking and teamwork in the workplace. He regularly exercises and practices yoga to have a clear mind on daily tasks at hand. Additionally, he loves a good old binge watch of his favorite history shows on Netflix, long bike rides, and marathon runs with his friends.

Nazar majored in Finance from Kardan University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

Kim O'Neil

Director, Standards and Assessment

Kim O'Neil

Director, Standards and Assessment

As Director of Standards, Kim O’Neil coordinates and facilitates the work of the National Board’s standards committees, governing councils, and advisory committees.

O’Neil is a renewed National Board Certified Teacher in Middle Childhood/Generalist. Prior to joining the National Board in 2013, O’Neil was an elementary and middle school teacher in Liverpool, New York, and President of the National Council for the Social Studies. She served on the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for the New York State Social Studies Education Department under Dr. John King and was a member of the National Board Middle Childhood/Generalist Standards Committee.

O’Neil earned a Certificate of Advanced Studies in education from State University of New York at Oswego and a Master’s in library science from the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. She graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in education and serves on the School of Education Alumni Advisory Board.

Sarah Pinsky

Director, Policy and State Strategy

Sarah Pinsky

Director, Policy and State Strategy

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.

Eddie Santiago

Communications Associate

Eddie Santiago

Communications Associate

Eddie Santiago serves as the Communications Associate for National Board. Eddie joined National Board in 2019. Eddie works to spread awareness and the importance of Board Certification in classrooms for both students and teachers. He helps with all the communications and media relations for the Board.

Eddie graduated from West Virginia University in December 2015 with a degree in journalism. Before joining National Board he worked as a production assistant at WWLP 22News in his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts (where basketball was invented). Growing up in Springfield really shaped Eddie’s love for basketball.

Eddie enjoys spending time with friends, and family, being active, finding new experiences, and is a big time sports fan.

Beth Spriggs

Vice President, Candidate Experience & Systems

Beth Spriggs

Vice President, Candidate Experience & Systems

Beth Spriggs joined the National Board in July 2019 as Vice President, Technology. She has spent her professional career working in the non-profit space, focused on technology combined with an emphasis on project management. Beth is passionate about education. With a degree in Secondary Education and professional experience working for education focused non-profits, she is most comfortable in front of a classroom.

Her extensive portfolio consists of everything from bite-sized undertakings to years-long overhauls that impact every aspect of the organization. Some additional areas of expertise include change management, risk management, and process analysis and improvement. Her career goal is to serve as a thought leader, to spouse a technology embedded strategic vision that scales the work to drive greater impact.

Evangeline Stewart

Sr. Associate, People & Administration

Evangeline Stewart

Sr. Associate, People & Administration

Evangeline Stewart joined the National Board in 2005 as an Administrative Assistant for Development. During her tenure at the National Board, Stewart has provided high-level support for multiple departments. In this role, Stewart conducts research, prepares reports, provides design support and maintains the donor database. Stewart is a part-time freelance photographer and graphic designer, a mother of two, and is currently pursuing a degree in communications design. During her free time, you can find Stewart organizing activities for Let Us Volunteer (LUV), a community service organization she created in effort to be of service in and around her neighboring community.

At present, Stewart provides support for Lisa Stooksberry, Senior VP of Standards and Assessment and Amber Parker, Senior VP of Outreach and Engagement.

Melissa Villareal

Senior Manager, Assessment

Melissa Villareal

Senior Manager, Assessment

Since joining the National Board in 2001, Melissa Villareal has played a key role within the National Board assessment team. Villareal works within Assessment to manage and document development, committee, and research projects, and budgets for National Board Certification. She also has experience in Assessment Operations providing strong support to National Board candidates throughout the certification process. Villareal takes great pleasure that her work provides many opportunities to support accomplished teachers.

Villareal holds a Bachelors’s in business administration from Strayer University. She is the proud parent of two school-aged children.

Lexus Whitfield

Associate, Standards and Assessment

Lexus Whitfield

Associate, Standards and Assessment

Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Lexus holds a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has recently graduated with an M.A. in Educational Transformation, concentration in Advocacy and Policy from Georgetown University. She hopes to obtain her Ph.D. in American Studies to become a museum curator on the intersection of education and the inter-African American diaspora.

Sarah Winshel

Associate, Policy and Research

Sarah Winshel

Associate, Policy and Research

Sarah Winshel joined the National Board in 2021 as the Associate for Policy and Research. In this role, she supports the work of the Policy Director and the Director for State Strategy and Partnerships, focusing on both federal and state level efforts.

Prior to joining the National Board, Sarah worked on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team and Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force as an assistant on the domestic policy teams. She graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in philosophy and now lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Mahlet Yewedalsew

Director, Cloud Systems/Services

Mahlet Yewedalsew

Director, Cloud Systems/Services

Mahlet Yewedalsew joined the National Board in April 2014 and serves as the Director, Cloud Systems/Services. Mahlet is an Ethiopian native who earned her bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Addis Ababa. She subsequently went on to work for the Department of Telecommunication for two years before moving to the United States and joining NBPTS. At the National board She Plans, leads, manages and supports mission-critical systems. Some important aspects of her life outside of work include family and activities with friends such as traveling and self-development.