Contributor

Anne L. Bryant, Executive Director, National School Boards Association

As executive director of the National School Boards Association, Anne L. Bryant heads a federation of state and territorial organizations dedicated to advancing education through citizen governance of public schools. The Federation reaches over 14,890 school districts involving 95,000 school board members. She directs a 130 person staff in Alexandria,Virginia, implementing policies to help the state associations and local school boards provide leadership for today's children in order to develop tomorrow's leaders.

A native of greater Boston, Massachusetts, Bryant is an experienced association executive and brings to NSBA a strong background in education. She has written widely on K-12 education, volunteer-staff leadership issues, and the role of the federal government in education. Bryant testifies before Congress, carrying the message that the education of our public school students is the nation's top priority. She serves as a spokesperson for NSBA to the news media and national organizations, forging new partnerships to guarantee every child an equal opportunity for a high quality education.

Bryant served as a Trustee of Simmons College and was Chair of the Board 2001-2004. She is Vice Chair of the Schools & Libraries Committee of Universal Service Administrative Company (which includes oversight of the $6.5 billion discount program established by the FCC to offer discounted telephone and internet service for schools and libraries). Bryant recently served as a member and co-chair of the CEO Forum on Education and Technology, an organization of 20+ high technology CEO's assembled to report to the nation on progress in technology and education. She was from 2006 until June 2007 the Board Chair for the Learning First Alliance, an alliance of 17 education organizations, and a member of The Center for Association Leadership's Council of Thought Leaders, an advisory group of globally recognized, visionary thinkers in the areas of leadership, management, and organizational development. Bryant is also on the Steering Committee for Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, a coalition of more than 40 advocates, educators, practitioners, officials, and organizations dedicated to promoting civic learning in America's schools, and on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc. and the Character Education Partnership.

Prior to joining NSBA in July 1996, Bryant was executive director of the American Association of University Women, a national organization advancing equity for women and girls in education, the workplace, and the family. From 1974 to 1986, she was vice president of the Professional Education Division of P.M. Haeger & Associates, a Chicago association management firm. She holds an Ed.D. degree from the University of Massachusetts and a B.A. from Simmons College.

In 1987, Bryant was named a fellow by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and in 1992 was honored for her leadership with the Key Award, the ASAE's highest recognition. In 1983, she was awarded the University of Massachusetts Alumnae Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Education, and in 1993 she received the Alumnae Achievement Award from Simmons College. In June 1996, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of New England, and in 1998, she was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Education from Middlebury College. In 1999, she received the Chancellor's Medal from the University of Massachusetts. In March 2002, the ASAE Foundation honored Bryant for her exceptional career in association leadership, and named her Executive of the Year for 2003. Association Trends named Bryant National Association Executive of the Year for 2005.