On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the Parents as Teachers Board of Directors will officially effect several significant decisions made during the annual in-person meeting in St. Louis, Missouri on Wednesday, June 4.
A refreshed Parents as Teachers Strategic Framework, reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors, will guide the goals and impacts envisioned for the next three years. In 2015, Parents as Teachers pivoted from a strategic plan to launch a strategic framework; this format coupled with a regular renewal schedule ensures a commitment to responsive strategy and innovation.
To prepare this refresh, Allison Kemner, Chief Research Officer, facilitated an in-depth process of internal and external listening. Affiliate and parent surveys, staff and state office conversations, and goal sessions with the Board of Directors informed the proposal presented to the Board at the June 4 meeting.
“This refreshed framework, like each one before it, was informed by stakeholders across the entire network and continues to inform the strategy that drives the success and impact of Parents as Teachers,” said Parents as Teachers CEO Constance Gully. “I’m excited to see how the initiatives and objectives in this iteration will strengthen families, communities and the professionals we train and certify.”
Leadership of the 31 members of the Board of Directors saw a change, as Parents as Teachers welcomes Dr. Lori Connors-Tadros as the new Chair following her position as Vice Chair. A Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIERR), Connors-Tadros holds a PhD in Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College and an MS in Early Childhood Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University.
“Lori’s position among early childhood systems across the country has enabled her to engage with the most current and vital connections in the field,” said Gully. “I look forward to this new chapter in her leadership, as she continues to use her strategic systems thinking to spark forward momentum in the organization.”
Outgoing Chair Dr. Mark Ginsberg will continue to serve as immediate past Chair. Dr. Ginsberg’s 40-year career in clinical psychology, education, and academic administration brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to his tenure as Board Chair.
“Dr. Ginsberg’s unwavering commitment to leadership on the Board of Directors ensured an effective governance structure, supported strong federal advocacy, championed the underlying vision behind every effort, and guided the organization through critical seasons of strategic framework decisions,” said Constance Gully, President and CEO of Parents as Teachers. “We are very grateful for his service and impact on the Board.”
Francis Vigil is transitioning from Secretary to Vice Chair of the Board, and Dr. Dipesh Navsaria will serve as Board Secretary. The annual meeting also marked the end of the single term of Oklahoma State Leader Susan Gibson, the second term of Dr. Joshua Sparrow, and the extended second term of Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter. Each of these members invested valuable time, skills, and insight into the organization.
Three new members joined the Board of Directors, each beginning their first three-year term. Jessica Saniguq Ullrich of Anchorage, Alaska, is an Assistant Professor at Washington State University in the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) program and holds a PhD in Social Welfare from the University of Washington. Sakinah Harrison of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a senior program officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and holds a Global Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California and a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University. Kevin Boulay of Westport, Massachusetts, is the Senior Home Visiting Implementation Specialist and Massachusetts Parents as Teachers State Office Lead and brings over 20 years of experience in family support programs.