Washington, DC - The DC State Board of Education (SBOE) congratulates former At-Large and Ward 2 member, Mary Lord, on being awarded the 2017 National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Distinguished Service Award. Ms. Lord is being recognized for her exceptional contributions to education.
“Mary Lord has been a leader in the D.C. education sphere for over a decade,” said D.C. State Board President Karen Williams. “Her dedication to STEM education in the city has ensured that students have access to stimulating educational experiences. Her service on the NASBE Board provided a direct link for the students of the District into national education policy debates. Her service on the state board will be felt for many years. I am honored to call her a colleague and partner in bettering opportunities for all District students.”
Ms. Lord, a longtime Dupont Circle resident, served on the DC State Board of Education for nine years from its inception in 2007 through 2016. She has been a champion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, saving the citywide science fair and leading the 2013 effort to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards. Ms. Lord recently finished a three-year term on the executive leadership team of NASBE, where she served as president in 2015, providing the District of Columbia a prominent seat at the federal education policy table. Ms. Lord’s primary areas of focus within the State Board purview were high academic expectations, Science/STEM, and teacher quality. Throughout her time on the State Board, Ms. Lord effectively served on citywide working groups and committees that resulted in stronger teacher licensing rules, the inclusion of health on the District’s annual state assessments, and a prototype Parents Bill of Rights.
The 2017 Distinguished Service Awards will be presented Friday, November 3, 2017, at NASBE’s national conference in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, please read NASBE’s press release.
The State Board of Education provides policy leadership, support, advocacy, and oversight of public education to ensure that every student is valued and learns the skills and knowledge necessary to become informed, competent, and contributing global citizens. More information about the SBOE can be found at sboe.dc.gov.