WASHINGTON – February 29, 2016–The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) is pleased to announce the appointment of two members to the organization’s Board of Directors. Gov. Bev Perdue, former North Carolina governor, and Tomeka Hart, vice president of strategic partnerships and institutional advancement at the Southern Education Foundation, will serve as the newest members of DQC’s Board.
“I am honored these two leaders have joined DQC’s board,” said Rob McKenna, chairman of DQC’s Board of Directors. “Their expertise and deep commitment to public service will help DQC advance its goal of making sure everyone with a stake in education has the information they need to ensure students excel.”
The new Board members bring deep experience in education, law, and business to Data Quality Campaign’s Board of Directors:
Former North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue:
Bev Perdue was elected North Carolina’s 73rd governor in 2008, the first woman to serve as chief executive of the state. Her trailblazing administration was dedicated to protecting and strengthening education, creating jobs, fostering accountability and transparency, and shepherding the state through the worst economic climate since the Great Depression. Her pioneering efforts in education innovation and reform are the hallmark of her more than 25 years in public service, including two terms as Lieutenant Governor and seven terms in the North Carolina Senate and House. Her Career & College: Ready, Set Go! agenda for Pre–K through post-secondary education was an innovative, comprehensive approach to keeping students on grade level, improving graduation rates, and increasing the number of students seeking college degrees or career training after high school. Since retiring from public service, Governor Perdue founded and is chair of DigiLEARN: Digital Learning Institute, a non-profit institution funded by two nationally renowned foundations to accelerate digital learning at all ages. She is Managing Director of the Perdue Strategy Group, working with clients to develop short and long term strategic plans and solutions involving planning, policy, acquisition, and financing in both the public and private sectors.
Tomeka Hart serves as the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Advancement for the Southern Education Foundation (SEF), leading and supporting SEF’s work to improve student outcomes from early childhood to adulthood, helping the CEO and staff to implement a broad range of advocacy, research, and coalition building activities across the Southern region. Prior to SEF, she served as the Vice President of African American Community Partnerships for Teach For America, where she was responsible for building alliances within the African American community, including civil rights groups, policy organizations, HBCUs, and media outlets. Prior to joining Teach For America, Hart served as the president and CEO of the Memphis Urban League. She is a former middle/high school teacher, and a former labor/employment lawyer. Hart served two terms on the elected Memphis City Schools Board of Education, serving 2005-2013. She served as Board President 2008-2009. In 2010, Hart joined with a colleague and led the efforts to merge the Memphis City and Shelby County school systems.
Perdue and Hart replace longtime members Sharon Robinson, president of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and Bob Swiggum, chief information officer of the Georgia Department of Education.
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Contact: Dakarai Aarons, daarons@dataqualitycampaign.org, 202-393-7192
About the Data Quality Campaign:
The Data Quality Campaign is a national, nonprofit organization leading the effort to bring every part of the education community together to empower educators, parents, and policymakers with quality information to make decisions that ensure students excel. For more information, go to dataqualitycampaign.org and follow us on Twitter @EdDataCampaign.
