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Richard L. Thompson Named Interim Executive Director of NCCAT

Dr. Elaine Franklin, executive director of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, recently announced that she will be leaving the center at the end of August to direct the Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development at NC State University. Franklin has been the executive director of NCCAT since April 2011. Franklin noted that NCCAT and the Kenan Fellows Program have worked closely for a number of years and she looks forward to growing that relationship.

NCCAT Board Chair Greg West of Fayetteville said, “Dr. Thompson has a distinguished career in public education highlighted by his time as a classroom teacher, coach, principal and superintendent. He also has served as the state superintendent of education in Mississippi and was a vice president in the UNC General Administration.” West added, “I feel our mission has never been so critical and I personally look forward to working closely with Dr. Thompson to make a difference for all the school children in North Carolina.”

Thompson is no stranger to NCCAT; he served as the center’s director from 1992–94. “The children of North Carolina have been the beneficiaries of this outstanding professional development program for our teachers,” Thompson said. “I look forward to working with the NCCAT Board of Trustees and staff in assisting in the implementation of the state’s education priorities and initiatives.”

"I would like to thank Elaine for her dedicated service to NCCAT, and look forward to her working to strengthen the relationship between NCCAT and Kenan Fellows,” West said. “We wish Elaine the best."

For more information about NCCAT’s professional development programs, visit www.nccat.org or call 828-293-5202.