Sharon Thomas Named ANA Deputy Executive Director for Education
Sharon Thomas, former Colorado Springs School District 11 Superintendent of Schools, has been named Deputy Executive Director for Education at the American Numismatic Association, Executive Director Chris Cipoletti has announced. Her appointment is effective Dec. 1.
In her new role, Thomas will be responsible for educational programming for the 32,000-member association. ANA education and outreach programs include a broad array of workshops and seminars offered to numismatic students throughout the country as well as a two-week Summer Seminar held annually at Colorado College. Thomas will be charged with expanding educational programs including public school curriculum which uses coins as teaching tools in a variety of subjects, ranging from math and economics to art and history.
“Sharon is well connected and well respected in educational circles around the country and brings knowledge and experience to the ANA to help us expand our educational programming at all levels,” Cipoletti said.
The ANA introduced its Coins in the Classroom program in 2004, and has since certified more than 125 K-12 teachers, who now use coins as teaching tools. Cipoletti said he expects Thomas will be able to both increase participation in Coins in the Classroom as well as develop new curriculum that schools can use for classroom and after-hours instruction.
“I’m very excited about this new opportunity,” Thomas said. “I am well aware that the ANA is the pre-eminent numismatic organization in the world, and that its educational offerings are valued greatly by its membership – both of which make this opportunity an incredible honor and challenge for me. Our goal now is to broaden the ANA’s educational mission and introduce numismatics to a larger more diverse audience. On a personal level, I’m thrilled and honored to join this extraordinary Association. I not only hope to bring something to the organization by drawing on my years in education, but I am looking forward to learning a lot as well.”
Thomas earned her Ph.D. in education from UCLA in 1982 and her J.D. from the University of Denver Law School in 1993. She has worked as a legal counsel representing public school districts, classroom teacher, school principal and administrator, and was superintendent of Little Falls (Minn.) Community Schools prior to being named superintendent at District 11.
Originally Release Date: December 4, 2006
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