SYTA’s Education Advisory Board

A key benefit of SYTA membership is access to the education community through our Education Advisory Board (EAB).  The EAB, comprised of representatives from top educational organizations, works with SYTA to help reach the numerous members of the education community - teachers, principals, school boards of educations, administrators - and to assist in the development of  programs that further the value of student travel and experiential learning.

Current EAB members are:

Canadian Association of Principals (CAP): www.cdnprincipals.org
CAP is the advocate for Canadian principals and vice-principals at the national level.  Working with other national education groups, CAP presents the views and opinions of principals and vice-principals on a variety of issues and in many different forums.  Its work with public and private sector partners provides invaluable services to all facets of the educational community.   CAP is based in Ontario, Canada.

CAP will work with SYTA to reach its member  principals and vice-principals, to communicate SYTA's message and the value of working with a SYTA tour operator.

EAB Member: Michael Knowles

Learning First Alliance (LFA):  www.learningfirst.org
The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of 17 leading education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America’s public schools. LFA believes that education associations must take responsibility for uniting key players in the education field, focusing attention on critical education issues, and using sound research to promote the continual and long-term improvement of public education.  The organization is committed to learning from and responding to the people who provide public education on a daily basis.   LFA is based in Washington, DC.
LFA will work with SYTA to communicate SYTA's messages to its membership and to partner on meaningful research about student travel and the value of experiential learning.

EAB Member: Claus Von Zastrow, Executive Director
Claus von Zastrow is the executive director of the Learning First Alliance where he works with the CEOs and elected leaders of the Alliance member organizations to implement Alliance goals and strategies. 
Prior to joining the Alliance, Claus worked in a variety of education and policy-related positions in Washington, DC, focusing on promoting higher education and learning.

MENC: The National Association of Music Education: www.menc.org
Among the world's largest arts education organizations, MENC marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. MENC serves millions of students nationwide through activities at all teaching levels, from preschool to graduate school.
MENC works to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.  MENC is based in Reston, Virginia.

MENC was an original member of SYTA's EAB and in 2010 is working more closely with us to promote the value of student travel to its membership and to provide trends and data for SYTA to share with its members and clients.

EAB Member: Earl Hurrey, Deputy Executive Director for Development
Earl began his musical career in 1975 teaching general music and band.  He then served in the Marines with the U.S. Marine Band in Washington, DC. Upon retirement from the Marine Band in 1997, Earl accepted a position with Guest Talent and Education Programs with Walt Disney Entertainment in Orlando, FL.  He oversaw the education outreach programs of Disney Magic Music Days where school musical groups of all ages were given the opportunity to perform.  He also oversaw production for several large-scale Disney festival events.

Earl joined MENC in 2001 and has held various positions with the organization.  He currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Business Development and is responsible for developing opportunities and programs with outside business entities and professional organizations that will promote MENC’s message of music education for all. 

National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE): www.nasbe.org
NASBE is an association that represents state and territorial boards of education.
In addition to state boards of education, the NASBE membership includes associate members (typically former state board members, local superintendents and school board members, members of other education organizations, etc.. NASBE provides targeted analysis of today’s complex education issues to state and territorial boards of education; promotes excellence in the education of all students; strengthens state leadership in education policymaking; and helps to assure responsible public governance of public education.  NASB is located in Alexandria, Virginia. 

NASB will work with SYTA to share SYTA's message with school boards and school administrators and encourage them to recommend SYTA tour operators to their schools.

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA): www.ncea.org
NCEA is the largest private professional education organization in the world, representing 200,000 Catholic educators serving 7.6 million students in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, in religious education programs, in seminaries and in colleges and universities. The focus of NCEA is that of leadership, professional development and advocacy for the Catholic schools. NCEA serves 1,220 Catholic secondary schools.  NCEA is based in Washington, DC.

NCEA works to promote to its membership the value of student travel and of working with a SYTA tour operator. 

EAB Member: Mary Francis Taymans, Executive Director, Secondary Schools
Sr. Taymans is the executive director, Secondary Schools Department at the National Catholic Educational Association.  As a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame, she was a teacher and a principal before she came to Washington, DC and taught in the career change teacher education program and directed the Office of Laboratory Experience at George Washington University and then served as assistant superintendent for Secondary Education for the Archdiocese of Washington.

Presently, as the executive director of the Secondary Schools Department of NCEA, Sr. Mary Frances directs the comprehensive agenda of the department and works particularly in the areas of faith development, leadership and advocacy

National Middle School Association (NMSA): www.nmsa.org
NMSA is the voice for those committed to the educational and developmental needs of young adolescents. It is the only national education association dedicated exclusively to students in middle-level grades. NMSA welcomes and supports those interested in the health and education of young adolescents. The organization has been a key resource to middle level educators working to develop more effective schools. NMSA’s goal is to encourage schools to be academically excellent, developmentally responsive, and socially equitable for every young adolescent.  NMSA is based in Columbus, OH.

NMSA promotes the value of student travel to its membership, is partnering with SYTA to develop and promote the National Youth Day Out program this October, in conjunction with NMSA's Month of the Young Adolescent.

EAB Member: Al Summers, Director of Conferences and Events
Al Summers is the director of conferences and events for National Middle School Association.  Prior to this, he served as vice president for Outreach and Professional Development for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS.)  His responsibilities included overseeing state and local outreach, higher-education initiatives, and professional development activities and projects, including the National Board Institutes.  A former teacher, Al was named the Associated Press Division IV Coach of the Year in Ohio in 2000.

National School Boards Association (NSBA): www.nsba.org
NSBA is a not-for-profit organization representing state associations of school boards and their member districts across the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public education through school board leadership. NSBA supports the capacity of each school board—acting on behalf of and in close concert with the people of its community—to envision the future of education in its community, to establish a structure and environment that allow all students to reach their maximum potential, to provide accountability to the community on performance in the schools, and to serve as the key community advocate for children and youth and their public schools. NSBA is located in Alexandria, Virginia.

NSBA will work with SYTA to help us reach school boards and deliver SYTA's message.

EAB Member: Scott Mueller, Board Member, NSBA
Scott Mueller has been serving as a management consultant and trainer for more than 25 years.  Working with staff in public and not-for-profit organizations, he has supported the development of an entire generation of supervisors and administrators in Rhode Island.  He is a member of the faculty of the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College where he has taught for more than 30 years, after working for the public child welfare agency in Rhode Island for nearly 10 years. 

He has been elected as a member of the South Kingstown School Committee for 17 years.  He is active in the state association, having been elected as president on two separate occasions and having been a member of the Executive Committee for fifteen years.  He is now serving his second term as a member of the Board of Directors for the National School Boards Association, serving through 2012. 

National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA): www.nspra.org
NSPRA provides school communication training and services to school leaders throughout the United States, Canada, and the U.S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools worldwide. It seeks to advance education through responsible communication. As the leader in school communications, NSPRA provides professional development, as well as products and services to build public support for the best educational opportunities and achievement for all students. NSPRA seeks to promote better public understanding of the objectives, accomplishments and needs of education in a diverse society.  NSPRFA is based in X.

NSPRA will work with SYTA to help grow awareness of the organization with schools and help SYTA gain access to and coverage in school publications and newsletters.

EAB Member: Rich Bagin, Executive Director
Rich Bagin has been leading NSPRA as its executive director since 1992. He offers more than 30 years of experience in school and private-sector public relations. He started his career as a secondary school English teacher in Pennsylvania and also served as a senior vice president with two marketing communication agencies and is accredited by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB).  Rich Bagin is the author of more than five books on all areas of public relations and has presented numerous times at the national conventions and workshops for all the major education leadership organizations.