Alexandria, Va. – August 25, 2022 – The Learning First Alliance (LFA), a partnership of leading education associations representing more than 10 million parents, educators and policymakers, has elected L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE, executive director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) as chair of its Board of Directors for the 2022-23 term.
Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, was elected secretary/treasurer, and Keith R. Kruger, CEO of CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) and 2021-22 LFA chair, will serve on the executive committee as immediate past president.
“For over three decades L. Earl Franks has been a supporter and advocate for excellence in education leadership and student learning,” said Richard M. Long, executive director of LFA. “Earl’s dedication and deep commitment to public education will be an asset to the board and help strengthen and expand the work of the Learning First Alliance. I congratulate Earl and look forward to working with him and the board in the coming year.”
“The entire school community, made up of students, faculty and staff, administrators, school families, and community stakeholders, benefits when groups come together to form partnerships that work toward similar goals and outcomes for student success and educational excellence,” said L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE. “That’s just what the Learning First Alliance sets out to do. I’m honored to have been elected chair of the Learning First Alliance, and I look forward to working with the board and member organizations as we continue to support excellence in schools and improve student success. Together, through engaging school communities and advocating for education policy and legislation, we can find innovative solutions to many of the challenges facing schools nationwide today.”
Franks is a veteran association executive and advocate for public education and school leadership. As NAESP’s executive director, he advances the Association’s mission in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle-level principals and other education leaders in their commitment for all children. Prior to serving as NAESP’s executive director, Franks was the executive director of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), Alabama’s leading umbrella organization for principals and school administrators.
About the Learning First Alliance
The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of leading education organizations with more than10 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; Consortium for School Networking; 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 PDK International. Learn more about LFA at http://www.learningfirst.org/.
