Former Governor's education advisor Sylvia Robinson joins McREL Board of Directors

February 8 , 2006

Aurora, Colo. — Dr. Sylvia Robinson, the former education policy advisor to Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, has joined the Board of Directors of Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL). McREL is a nationally recognized, private, nonprofit organization located in Aurora, Colo., which uses high-quality research to help educators to improve student learning.

Robinson, who holds a Ph.D. in Education/Educational Psychology and Research, has been a classroom teacher in Kansas City, Kan., a special education examiner at the University of Kansas Medical Center, a vice president and chief evaluation officer for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the Director of Education Policy for the State of Kansas under Gov. Sebelius. She currently serves as vice president of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

"McREL's mission and goals are closely aligned with the issues that are of deepest concern to me - including creating classrooms and schools where all children can succeed," said Robinson. "I am looking forward to helping McREL continue to expand its positive impact on schools, teachers, and children across the country."

"With her unique mix of classroom, research, and policy experience, Dr. Robinson will no doubt make valuable contributions to our Board," said McREL President and CEO Tim Waters. "We are honored that she has agreed to help us guide our work in Kansas and across the nation."

Other McREL Board members from Kansas include Tracy Callard, Wichita Collegiate School Teacher; Jim Edwards, Kansas Association of School Boards Governmental Relations Specialist; and F. Tim Witsman, Financial Consultant AG Edwards & Sons, Wichita. In 2005, McREL delivered services to clients in 45 states and three foreign countries and had annual revenues of more than $13.2 million.

McREL is a nationally recognized, private, nonprofit organization located in Aurora, Colo., dedicated to improving education for all students through applied research, product development and service. Its staff of highly respected educators and researchers focuses on providing educators and policymakers with the highest quality, field-tested, research-based products and services available in Pre-K-16 education.