Audit Committee
Members are defined by CCSSO’s bylaws and may serve on this and additional committees.
The Audit Committee reviews the Council's annual financial audit and presents the findings to the Board of Directors. It has a rotating membership as defined by the Council's bylaws that consists of the past president, chair of the Internal Operations Committee, and the two newest board members.
Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin – Chair
Richard Cate, Vermont
Steve Paine, West Virginia
D. Kent King, Missouri
Bruce Buterbaugh, Staff Liaison
Extra-State Jurisdiction Committee
As defined by CCSSO’s bylaws members of this committee may serve on additional committees.
The Extra-State Jurisdiction Committee has responsibility for the special concerns of the extra-state jurisdictions as they relate to activities of the Council and their particular relationships with the federal government.
Lavern Terry, Virgin Islands
Claire Poumele, American Samoa
Deborah Gist, District of Columbia
Joe Tafoya, Department of Defense Education Activity
Luis Reyes, Guam
David Borja, Northern Mariana Islands
Rafael Aragunde-Torres, Puerto Rico
Scott Montgomery, Staff Liaison
Finance Committee and Executive Committee
Members are defined by CCSSO’s bylaws and may serve on this and additional committees.
Finance Committee and Executive Committee membership is defined by the bylaws as the president, president-elect, and vice president. The committee meets regularly (usually by conference call) to review Council finances and membership issues.
Rick Melmer, South Dakota - Chair
Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin
Ken James, Arkansas
Bruce Buterbaugh (Finance) and Scott Montgomery (Executive), Staff Liaisons
Internal Operations
As defined by CCSSO’s bylaws, members of this committee may serve on additional committees.
Internal Operations is responsible for presenting the slate of candidates for board positions to the membership at the Annual Policy Forum. The committee is also responsible for site selection of the Summer Institute and Annual Policy Forum. The committee is made up of seven members of whom no more than two may be former presidents of CCSSO.
Kent King, Missouri – Chair
Ken James, Arkansas
Kathy Cox, Georgia
Suellen Reed, Indiana
Richard Cate, Vermont
Judy Jeffrey, Iowa
Peter McWalters, Rhode Island
Scott Montgomery, Staff Liaison
Global Education Committee
The CCSSO Global Education Committee represents an important opportunity for all parties in the U.S. education sector to share knowledge and strengths with other countries. It also provides an opportunity for the U.S. education community to participate more fully in a wide variety of international educational activities and to have broader access to information about international developments and innovations in the field of education.
Peter McWalters, Rhode Island – Chair
Valerie Woodruff, Delaware
Kathy Cox, Georgia
Jack O’Connell, California
Suellen K. Reed, Indiana
Rick Mills, New York
June Atkinson, North Carolina
Susan Castillo, Oregon
Richard Cate, Vermont
Susan Gendron, Maine
Alexa Posny, Kansas
Deborah Gist, District of Columbia
Billy K. Cannaday, Virginia
Scott Montgomery, Staff Liaison
National Teacher of the Year Advisory Committee
Members may serve on this task force in addition to other committees as it does not meet at the Annual Policy Forum or the Summer Institute.
The National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) Advisory Committee provides insight and advice to the Council on the NTOY program and acts as an ambassador group to promote quality Teach of the Year programs in the states.
Joe Morton, Alabama
Ken James, Arkansas
Suellen Reed, Indiana
Nancy Grasmick, Maryland
Kathy Cox, Georgia
Lucille Davy, New Jersey
Sandy Garrett, Oklahoma
Rick Melmer, South Dakota
Chris Koch, Illinois
Jon Quam, Staff Liaison
Legislative Task Force
The Legislative Task Force is responsible for making recommendations to the Council's Executive Director and Board of Directors on organization, procedure, and substantive positions for federal liaison. The Legislative Task Force shall be authorized to establish the appropriations insofar as statements of positions are required between regular meetings, subject to the applicable policies and resolutions previously adopted by the Council and the Board of Directors. The Legislative Task Force shall also have the authority to establish ad hoc sub committees as appropriate to contend with specific legislative initiatives and make recommendations to the full council, the board of directors, and the executive director.
Tom Horne, Arizona
Jack O’Connell, California
Mark McQuillan, Connecticut
Valerie Woodruff, Delaware
Judy Jeffrey, Iowa
Mike Flannagan, Michigan
Doug Christensen, Nebraska
Rick Mills, New York
Gerry Zahorchak, Pennsylvania
Lana Seivers, Tennessee
Robert Scott, Texas
Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin
Jim McBride, Wyoming
Scott Frein, Staff Liaison
Extended Learning Opportunities Task Force
The Extended Learning Opportunities Task Force is designed to allow chiefs discuss and suggested new state policy and best practices to support extended learning opportunities for all students. Given the substantial federal support for these programs (21st Century Community Learning Centers) and provisions within NCLB which require Supplemental Services this task force will explore new and innovative ways to increase student achievement.
Susan Zelman, Ohio – Chair
Mike Flannagan, Michigan
Lyonel Tracy, New Hampshire
Wayne Sanstead, North Dakota
John Draud, Kentucky
Sandy Garrett, Oklahoma
Mark McQuillan, Connecticut
Paul Pastorek, Louisiana
Ayeola Fortune, Staff Liaison
Native American Task Force
The Native American Task Force is designed to allow chiefs and deputies to share state activities, programs, and policies that focus on increasing the academic achievement of American Indian students. Task force members also address technical assistance priority needs that frame the Council’s scope of work.
Rick Melmer, South Dakota – Chair
Tom Horne, Arizona
Patricia Hamamoto, Hawaii
Linda McCulloch, Montana
Keith Rheault, Nevada
Jim McBride, Wyoming
Alice Seagren, Minnesota
Sandy Garrett, Oklahoma
Wayne Sanstead, North Dakota
Barbara Thompson, Alaska
Lois Adams-Rodgers, Staff Liaison
Special Education Task Force
Members may serve on this task force in addition to other committees as it does not meet at the Annual Policy Forum or the Summer Institute.
This special task force has been designed to discuss pending IDEA legislation and to make recommendations to the chiefs regarding the reauthorization of IDEA. It will work with CCSSO staff to monitor the legislation and work with states and congressional membership to ensure state special education needs are addressed.
Terry Bergeson, Washington – Chair
Joe Tafoya, Department of Defense Education Activity
Veronica Garcia, New Mexico
Peter McWalters, Rhode Island
Chris Koch, Illinois
Eric Smith, Florida
Jim Rex, South Carolina
Scott Frein, Staff Liaison
ESEA Reauthorization Task Force
Members may serve on this task force in addition to other committees as it does not meet at the Annual Policy Forum or the Summer Institute.
The task force will build on CCSSO’s efforts to reinforce sound state and local education practices and to craft the Council’s reauthorization proposal. Task force members will be asked to participate in a series of meetings to produce a thoughtful and concise ESEA reauthorization proposal that showcases the Council’s leadership at the national and federal levels.
Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin – Chair
Valerie Woodruff, Delaware
Judy Jeffrey, Iowa
Hank Bounds, Mississippi
Veronica Garcia, New Mexico
Patti Harrington, Utah
Alexa Posny, Kansas<br /> Paul Pastorek, Louisiana
Jim Rex, South Carolina
Scott Frein, Staff Liaison
Task Force on 21st Century Teaching and Learning
The Task Force on 21st Century Teaching and Learning will determine: the knowledge and skills needed by students in the 21st century’s interconnected world, how best to deliver and address teaching and learning in this new environment, and provide practical solutions and policy recommendations for educators at all levels.
Rick Melmer, South Dakota – Chair
Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin
Valerie Woodruff, Delaware
Steve Paine, West Virginia
June Atkinson, North Carolina
Mike Flannagan, Michigan
Scott Montgomery, Staff Liaison
Early Childhood Task Force
The Early Childhood Task Force will help chiefs as they develop policies, investments and partnerships to enhance learning opportunities and outcomes for children from birth to age five and beyond, with a special focus on at-risk populations.
Sandy Garrett, Oklahoma – Chair
Susan Gendron, Maine – Vice Chair
Dwight Jones, Colorado
Chris Koch, Illinois
Paul Pastorek, Louisiana
Susan Zelman, Ohio
Gerry Zahorchak, Pennsylvania
Jim Rex, South Carolina
Robert Scott, Texas
Billy Cannaday, Virginia
Terry Bergeson, Washington
Libby Burmaster, Wisconsin
Thomas Schultz, Staff Liaison
