Board of Directors

NACOL Board of Directors



Members of the Board of Directors are affiliated with the above organizations.

Steve Baxendale currently directs the activities of the Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN), a program of the World Health Organization providing online continuing education to health workers in 12 Pacific Island countries. He has been involved in both telecommunications and education for the past twenty-five years and holds a graduate degree in Communications Systems from Northwestern University. He has been involved in the creation and delivery of online courses for students, teachers, and health professionals for over ten years. His experience also includes serving as a teacher and vice-principal. Prior to joining WHO, Mr. Baxendale served as the director of PRELStar, a Star Schools project to develop local telecommunications infrastructure and deliver distance learning courses to students, teachers, and adults. His experience also includes serving as director of the Office of Production and Technical Services at the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory in Oak Brook, Illinois. In these positions, he directed the creation of both print and video professional development resources, managed the creation and production of multimedia resources including synchronous and asynchronous e-Learning courses, and provided technical assistance for states, U.S. territories, school districts, international organizations, and Pacific Rim nations in technology planning and integration.

Sue Collins is a leader in education technology with 35 years of experience. A member of President Clinton’s Web-based Education Commission, she has provided Congressional testimony on a variety of ed-tech issues. Recently she testified before the FTC regarding interstate barriers to online courses and worked with the USDOE on the National Ed-Tech Plan.

Dr. Allan Jordan is the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Financial Operations for Granville County, North Carolina Schools. In his previous position, he was the Director of Online Teaching and Learning for Cumberland County North Carolina Schools, as well as the Principal of the Web Academy, an online school that became the North Carolina Virtual Public School. He has served on many board of directors within North Carolina and across the United States. Additionally, Dr. Jordan has collaborated and consulted nationally on many projects with such organizations as ISTE, AASA, NASB and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Dr. Jordan was a founding member of NACOL and its first Chairman. He holds a B.A. in English Education, an M.A. in English Education, additional certifications in Administration and Supervision as well as in Instruction. Dr. Jordan also holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership. He is widely published and works daily with online instruction in his current position.

William Lager, CEO of Altair Learning Management, is one of America's online learning pioneers. In 2000, he founded Ohio’s successful Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT), Ohio’s first, largest and most innovative statewide e-school. He draws on his experience in government, business and technology to help lead the e-learning revolution.

Mickey Revenaugh is a co-founder and Vice President at Connections Academy, a leading national provider of virtual public school curriculum, technology, and school management services. Previously, she helped launch the E-rate program to wire every school and library to the Internet, and served as education technology magazine editor at Scholastic.

Donna Vakili has been actively involved in online education and teacher training for over 10 years. She currently serves as the Director at the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA), a state virtual high school (http://idla.k12.id.us). Before joining IDLA, she taught graduate and undergraduate courses for Boise State University. Donna has made multiple presentations on topics such as Integrating Third Party Content, Learner-centered Principles and Online Education, Building a Virtual High School with Blackboard Building Blocks, and Assessment in Online Education. Her publications include “Comparing Online Programs”, New Century Schoolhouse, Oregon Educational Technology Consortium, Spring 2004 and “A Learner-centered Framework for E-learning”, Teachers College Record, August 2005. She received her doctorate from the University of Idaho, her Masters degree from Boise State University, and her bachelors from the University of Virginia. She is an Idaho-certified teacher in Standard Mathematics, Social Studies, Business Education, Computer Applications, and Vocational Education.

Julie E. Young pioneered the launch of the Florida Virtual School (FLVS), in 1997 with a goal of developing and providing access to high quality, online courses to students throughout the State of Florida. Today her vision has become an award-winning leading provider of Internet-based courseware for middle and high school students in Florida and around the globe.

Ms. Young is an educator, an educational administrator, e-Learning advocate, industry expert in technology-supported instruction and an impassioned leader. As the President and CEO of Florida Virtual School, she directs the work of the 350 plus education faculty, courseware developers, web design specialists and technology support personnel. Government affairs and policy direction play an important part of her role.

Young is the winner of the prestigious 1999 USDLA Most Outstanding Achievement by an Individual Award for K-12, and was inducted into the USDLA "Hall of Fame" in 2003. She was honored as one of the first National Net Day Heroes. She has received the 2002 eSchool News Tech-Savvy Superintendent Award, and the Medallion of the Alliance from the Global Alliance for Transnational Education.