NAPE Executive Committee
The NAPE Executive Committee is the leadership and representative body of the NAPE membership, leadership of NAPE’s Board of Directors (i.e., State Members), and it provides strategic direction for the organization.
The Executive Committee is focused on NAPE membership, public policy, and programming (which includes technical assistance, highlighting NAPE services and professional development, webinars, and support for the annual National Summit for Educational Equity (SUMMIT). It discharges this duty by setting an annual Program of Work. Eleven members serve staggered terms between 1 and 3 years. New members are elected annually by the Board of Directors. Executive Committee members get an unique opportunity to represent their community and states through being advocates for equity by:
- Leading the Program of Work for NAPE
- Engaging advocates for equity through Public Policy, Professional Development opportunities, and member to member best practices and sharing
- Supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion growth and knowledge of each advocate
Most of the Committee’s work is done through seven subcommittees: Awards, Bylaws, Finance, Public Policy, Summit Planning, Nominations, and Member Services.
2024/25 Executive Committee Members
Sara Baird (President), Assistant Director, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, CTE
Sara currently serves as the Assistant Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction serving K-12 public schools statewide. Her background in CTE includes her previous positions as the Career Pathways Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) where she focused on career pathways development, data definitions and collection, and growing career readiness awareness statewide. She started her work at DPI in Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship in 2006. Prior to DPI, Sara taught Marketing Education for ten years in southeastern Wisconsin. Sara has a bachelor’s degree in marketing education and a master’s degree in training and development both from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Sara has been a member of NAPE since 2013 and has served as a board member at large on the Executive Committee for the last year. Her equity journey is rooted in implicit bias training alongside breaking down barriers for participation in career and technical education.
Michael Tinsley (Past President), Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services, Tennessee Board of Regents
Educating students has been a large part of Michael’s existence as far back as his elementary school days where he assisted lower performing students grasp and apply educational concepts to their everyday lives.
As a secondary educator for nearly two decades, Michael was an instructor, assistant principal, principal, and district leader responsible for closing achievement gaps while ensuring students had opportunities to realize their dreams through educational pathways. He transitioned to working with adults who needed differentiated learning in the area of math to fulfill high school requirements in order to move on to postsecondary education.
As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success at the Tennessee Board of Regents Michael’s role has encompassed working with over fifty institutions of higher learning and more than 200,000 students annually. The overarching goal has been to increase degree attainment among students whatever their race, color, national origin, gender, disability status, or additional qualities and characteristics. He has led faculty through statewide efforts in articulating credit from high schools to associate degrees on through bachelor’s degrees. His communication and leadership have been effectively utilized through speaking engagements and tours while leading diverse groups of stakeholders during innovative programs: Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect, High Impact Practices, Tennessee Statewide Dual Credit, Prior Learning Assessments, Curriculum Pathways, Co-requisite Courses, Gateway Coursework, Academic Mindset, 9 hours in Academic Focus, 30 hours in first year, SAILS etc. while maintaining a focus on data to drive student-based decisions.
Michael has been recognized with national awards and currently serves as an active member in multiple non-profit organizations while actively participating on various non-profit boards/executive committees: one as the President, another as Program Chair, along with NAPE’s Executive Committee and Chair of the Public Policy Committee.
The National Association for Partnerships in Equity, NAPE, drew Michael’s attention with its history rooted in sex (gender) equity in 1979, which grew to include vocational education (now – career and technical education) and the legislative advocacy of each. The incorporation of NAPE’s four pillars: “Public Policy and Advocacy, Technical Assistance, Professional Development, and Research and Evaluation” were important magnets. In Michael’s words, “The core of what I do daily, is to fight for those whose voices can’t be heard above the noise. NAPE is an organization, from within its very name, ‘equity’, provides for those same individuals through advocating legislative policies, while researching and evaluating effective practices and programs, to provide technical assistance and professional development to benefit those who otherwise would not be heard. It is an honor to partner with such an organization to make a difference in students’ lives.”
Aimee Julian, PhD (Treasurer), Director, Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support, Illinois State University
Dr. Aime’e Julian is the Director of the Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support (ICSPS) at Illinois State University. ICSPS provides technical assistance, develops publications, and facilitates program improvement strategies for our partners as they relate to equity, transition, recruitment, retention, and completion – encouraging achievement of special populations learners. The Center focuses on access, equity and support for all learners with attention on students pursuing nontraditional fields, students with ASD transitioning to postsecondary and the workplace, and equity for under-represented learners. Dr. Julian creates, supports, and delivers professional development for career, technical, adult education and workforce professionals across Illinois. She has 20-year experience working extensively with the implementation of the Perkins legislation in coordination with the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois State Board of Education. Aime´e collaborates with the Adult Education professional development providers in Illinois to develop and deliver the Illinois Transitions Academy – Illinois’ scalability of ICAPS/IET programs. Dr. Julian also leads the professional development efforts for the WIOA system in Illinois which concentrates on service integration. Aime´e is an experienced lecturer and facilitator, a certified DACCUM trainer and has taught for fifteen years as an Instructional Professor in the Educational, Administration and Foundations department at Illinois State University.
Sheila Box (State Member at Large), Education Specialist II, State of Alaska, Department of Education & Early Development
Sheila Box currently serves as a Program Manager on the Career and Technical Education team for the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. She works with 24 secondary school districts on their Perkins V grants, including on-site monitoring and technical assistance. As part of the CTE team Sheila provides leadership, coordination, and evaluation of Perkins V programs at the state level including program policy, documentation, technical assistance, and data collection. She is a coordinator and presenter for the annual statewide Perkins V Workshop and presents at the ACTE statewide Professional Development Conference annually. Sheila is responsible for much of the CTE communication for the Department of Education CTE team, as well as the team lead for career mentoring and equity aspects of Perkins V programming. A Department Education Specialist for over 20 years, Sheila has worked on programs including Title I, School Improvement, Supplemental Educational
Services, Early Childhood grants, Title IV, and was the state MCKinney Vento Homeless coordinator for several years. She is an advocate for equitable representation in CTE programs, including culturally relevant CTE pathways, students experiencing homelessness, women in the trades, and career mentoring for rural schools. Sheila completed an Advance CTE grant in 2022, creating an online asynchronous Rural Career Mentoring course designed to provide career counseling training to staff in rural schools without counseling staff. A lifelong Alaskan, in her spare time Sheila enjoys gardening, quilting, boating and being outdoors with friends, family, and her dog Allie.
Jonathan Wickert, Ed.D. (State Member at Large, Executive Committee Secretary), Delaware Department of Education
Dr. Jonathan Wickert is the state Director of Career and Technical Education and STEM Initiatives at the Delaware Department of Education. He is responsible for leading and aligning federal and state education and workforce policy and programs to high-growth industry sectors, braiding financial resources, and developing supports for youth and adults with barriers to continuing education and employment. Jon is committed to ensuring Delawareans have access to a high-quality education that centers identity, is affordable and efficient, and results in a wealth-generating career.
He serves on the Leadership Council at Junior Achievement of
Delaware, and is the benefactor of the Wickert Family Study Abroad Scholarship at Frostburg State University as well as Co-Advisor of the University’s student chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Eva Scates-Winston (State Member at Large), CTE Equity Specialist, Minnesota State System Office
Eva serves as the CTE Equity Specialist at the Minnesota State System Office. In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education CTE staff and
the Minnesota State CTE unit, Eva collaborates with other state agencies and community partners to provide professional development, technical
assistance, and resources to the CTE Perkins Consortia. The most satisfying work includes building relationships with internal and external partners
serving diverse populations through joint initiatives and collaborative projects. The Equity Capacity-building Grant and Equity Academy assistance
are the top priority initiatives for building student success within special populations.
Eva completed the Minnesota CTE Leadership Fellows program in 2023. She is active on various committees, including the Minnesota State Academic
Equity Council and MN Higher Education Consortium (MIHEC) at the University of Minnesota. MIHEC supports students with intellectual
disabilities in successfully transitioning into college. Past leadership includes the SkillsUSA and HOSA board, NAPE Executive Committee (2001-2003) and Membership Committee (2014-17), ACTE diversity task force (IAED) and mentee program development advisor.
Eva earned a master’s degree in Developmental Education from Grambling State University and completed graduate work in Education Leadership at the University of Minnesota.
Julie McMurtrey (Affiliate Member at Large), Associate Dean of Student Care College of Eastern Idaho
Julie McMurtrey currently serves as the Associate Dean of Student Care at College of Eastern Idaho (CEI). In this position, she oversees Counseling
Services, Disability Resources, Center for New Directions (serving Perkins Special Populations), Financial Aid and Student Life. Julie began her
employment at CEI in 2013, when the college was still EITC. Julie has served as the Senior Coordinator for the Center for New Directions at CEI where she worked with students by providing career exploration, retention services, and recruitment for non-traditional programs as well as providing services to single parents and displaced homemakers. SHe holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Weber State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from Utah State University.
During her time at CEI she has helped to launch a campus food pantry, a child care assistance program, a textbook lending library, and an expansion
of career services. She has been instrumental in writing various grants including grants for branding and marketing, childcare assistance for
students, and drug misuse prevention.
Laura Rittner (Affiliate Member at Large), Vice President of Operations & Student Success, Ohio Association of Community Colleges
Laura Rittner serves as Executive Director of the Success Center for Ohio Community Colleges at the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC). In this role she oversees the OACC’s student success initiatives including Ohio’s guided pathways project for community colleges, the Student Success Leadership Institute, and the Leadership Academy for Student Success. The Success Center’s portfolio of grants has grown to include over $20 million in state, federal and private foundation investments under Laura’s leadership. She has engaged many national partners in the OACC’s student success efforts and served as an inaugural coach for the American Association of Community College’s Pathways Project from 2016-2017. Laura is currently serving as a coach for Talent Strong Texas Pathways and NCII’s Rural Pathways Project.
Laura has 19 years of experience in community college leadership. She joined the OACC in 2013 as Director of Research and Data Analysis after working for 7 years at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, OH as Director for Institutional Research. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from Miami University in Oxford, OH and a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Gina McPherson (CTEEC Representative), Director of Special Programs, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Gina McPherson is a devoted wife to her husband of 22 years, and a mother to two wonderful sons. She currently serves as the Special Programs Manager for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education where she provides oversight for two contracts with the Department of Human Services. She works with the Community College TANF Special Projects and the Scholars for Excellence in Child Care Program. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Environmental Sciences from Oklahoma State University, and a Masters of Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. In her spare time, she enjoys going to band events with her youngest son who is a percussionist at Norman North High School. Her oldest son is a college student pursuing a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting.
Brittany Brady, NAPE CEO (non-voting)
Brittany H. Brady, Ed.M., CAP® is a lifelong learner and educator who has worked in the education space for over 10 years. Brittany has committed herself to equitable access for education and fulfillment of potential for all.
An opportunity to be community liaison at W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy within the Dallas Independent School District brought Brittany to Dallas from Washington, D.C. While at Greiner, Brady worked to increase parental engagement and student achievement by creating parenting workshops and mentoring truant students. Brittany also served as Executive Director of the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program assisting high achieving students from Dallas ISD on their journey to attaining a college degree. She was most recently Chief Development Officer at Lumin Education.
Brittany received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland and also holds a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Prevention Science and Practice. While at the University of Maryland, she was named a Banneker/Key and Ronald E. McNair Scholar. She received her Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy Designation from the American College of Financial Services in Winter 2021. She plans to apply her knowledge and experience to improving outcomes for the varied student experiences across the country.
Program Committees
- Awards
- Bylaws
- Finance, Aime’e Julian, Chair
- Member Services, Kathy Albin, Chair
- Nominating
- Professional Development, Joe Green and Michael Tinsley, Co-Chairs
- Public Policy and Advocacy, Michael Tinsley (TN), Chair
- Summit Planning: Joe Green, Chair
