Learning First Alliance Names Richard M. Long as Executive Director
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) February 19, 2016 -- Veteran education advocate Richard M. Long will be the Executive Director of the Learning First Alliance (LFA), the coalition of 15 national education organizations representing more than 10 million parents, educators and policymakers, its Board of Directors announced today.
Long has spent the past four decades working in education policy, most recently as an independent consultant. He was the Government Relations Director for the International Reading Association for 37 years, while concurrently serving as Executive Director/Government Relations Director for the National Title I Association from 1995 to 2014.
“We are thrilled that Richard will bring his expertise as a nationally known advocate, writer and commentator to the Learning First Alliance, particularly as the federal government begins its regulatory process for the Every Student Succeeds Act,” said Stephanie Hirsh, LFA Board Chair and Executive Director of Learning Forward.
Under Long’s leadership, LFA will focus on the implementation of ESSA, while continuing work on college- and career-ready standards through its “Get It Right” campaign.
“I look forward to working as a part of Learning First Alliance’s continued advocacy for public education and higher-level learning,” Long said. “The members of LFA want to ensure that the Every Student Succeeds Act will work for all students, and they are committed to the consultative process that will bring local and state educators’ expertise into the ESSA implementation.”
Thomas J. Gentzel, Executive Director of the National School Boards Association and chair of LFA’s executive search committee, noted that LFA has been a facilitator of leading education organizations for two decades. “Richard Long’s extensive experience in Washington and education policy will ensure the Learning First Alliance continues to cultivate relationships that advance best practices in public education.”
About The Learning First Alliance
The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of leading education organizations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools. Alliance members include: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; AASA: The School Superintendents Association; American Federation of Teachers; American School Counselor Association; ASCD; Consortium for School Networking; International Society for Technology in Education; Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Education Association; National PTA; National School Boards Association; National School Public Relations Association; and Phi Delta Kappa International. To learn more about LFA, visit http://www.learningfirst.org.
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Julie Newport, Learning First Alliance, http://www.learningfirst.org/, +1 (202) 266-4718, [email protected]
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