Alaska Council of School Administrators announced today that Lisa Skiles Parady will be the incoming executive director of the organization. "We are excited to have Dr. Parady's vision, skills and energy at such a crucial time for public education in Alaska" stated Rod Morrison, ASCA President. "Truly, the future of public schools and our students is at stake, as a perfect storm of ever increasing mandates and requirements and inadequate funding weaken the foundation of education. Dr. Parady has a proven track record in policy, legislative processes, and most importantly, education leadership in an Alaskan school district, to help pull us together for the challenges we face."
Noting her excitement to join Alaska's statewide umbrella education professional organization and build on its strong foundation, Dr. Parady stated "I am eager to bring my energy and passion to the position. We need unity to face the challenges ahead for public education. As an organization, our job is to create understanding and to fulfill the dream we all share, of public education as the great equalizer in a democratic society, where every student has the chance to make the most of themselves."
Dr. Parady comes to the job after six years in Barrow as the Assistant Superintendent of the North Slope Borough School District. She led the district's curriculum and evaluation processes and dealt with the many issues that confront rural districts – teacher retention, engaging students with curriculum that matters to them, and the day-to-day challenges of school and district administration. Before moving to Alaska, she served as Chief of Staff in the Wyoming Department of Education, as Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, and as Senior Policy Analyst in the Governor's office.
As a non-profit, tax exempt corporation established in 1973, the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) was created to serve as an umbrella for four of Alaska's premier educational leadership organizations, including school superintendents (AASA), school business officials (ALASBO), and secondary (AASP) and elementary principals (AAEP). Additionally, the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) is part of the association.
ACSA's unifying purpose is to support educational leaders through professional forums, provide a voice that champions possibilities for all students and purposeful advocacy for public education. ACSA is comprised of the professional educational leaders of Alaska's schools and school systems. Members include superintendents and other central office administrators, university professors, elementary and secondary principals and school business officials.
As an umbrella organization, ACSA takes a lead role in supporting and advocating for public education while recognizing the value and uniqueness of each member organization. Each member organization has its own board and selects representatives to serve on the eleven member ACSA board.
ACSA press release