Board Members
Dr. Byron Ernest was the 2010 Indiana “Teacher of the Year” and 2011 Christopher Columbus Foundation Outstanding National Agriscience Teacher. As a globally recognized speaker and facilitator, Byron founded Leadery Global to offer custom tailored speaking and consultative packages for clients in education and other industries all around the world. Through his professional service firm, he […]
People
Erin D. Benham was reappointed to the Connecticut State Board of Education by Governor Ned Lamont in January 2023 and serves as the state board’s vice chair. She also chairs the board’s accountability and support committee, and is a member of the academic standards and assessment committee. In June 2020, Ms. Benham was appointed to […]
Board Members
Matt W. Donaldson was appointed as the Twelfth District Representative to the Georgia State Board of Education on January 12, 2021. Donaldson also serves on the board’s Budget Committee, Audit Committee, and State Schools Committee. Donaldson also serves on the Georgia Foundation for Public Education to represent the state board. For NASBE, Donaldson has served […]
Board Members
Keven Ellis was elected to the Texas State Board of Education in November 2016 and reelected in 2020 and 2022. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Ellis chair twice, where he served from 2019 to 2023. Ellis is a member of the board’s Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund, which oversees agenda items related to the Permanent School […]
People
McCall Flynn serves as executive director of the Montana Board of Public Education. Prior, Flynn served eight years under Governor Steve Bullock in numerous capacities, such as project manager, policy advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, and education policy advisor. Flynn has worked extensively with legislators and legislative staff, the Office of Public Instruction, members of […]
Staff
Paolo DeMaria is president and CEO of the National Association of State Boards of Education. He recently retired as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Ohio after five years of service. In that role his proudest accomplishment was the collaborative development of Each Child, Our Future, Ohio’s strategic plan for education that continues to […]
Staff
Celina Pierrottet manages NASBE’s work on student wellness. She oversees grant projects and member services that provide state policymakers with evidence-based practices and technical assistance to ensure all students can learn and thrive in healthy school environments. After earning a Master of Arts in Education from the College of William and Mary, Pierrottet spent six […]
Board Members
Dr. Fern Desjardins was appointed to the Maine State Board of Education in 2018 and is in her second 5-year term on the board. She serves as chair of the School Construction Committee and a member of the Legislative Action Committee. She served four years (2021-2025) as chair of the board and has served on […]
