National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to Present Prestigious James A. Kelly Award to John B. King Jr., Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, and James Meadows

ARLINGTON, Va. - March 18, 2026

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (National Board) will present its prestigious James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teachingto three distinguished leaders in education: John B. King Jr., Chancellor of the State University of New York and former U.S. Secretary of Education; Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, Director of Teacher Leadership and University Partnerships and Manager of National Board Certification for the Chicago Public Schools-Chicago Teachers Union partnership; and James Meadows, Dean and Director of the Educator Career Pathways Center at the Washington Education Association.

Named for the National Board's founding president and CEO, the award recognizes individuals whose leadership and commitment have strengthened accomplished teaching and expanded opportunities for educators and students nationwide.

WHAT

Presentation of the James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching

WHO

John B. King Jr.- John B. King Jr. is the 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York, the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the United States. As Chancellor, King and the SUNY Board of Trustees have established four pillars to guide SUNY's progress: student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility. As part of SUNY's commitment to student success, Chancellor King has championed a System-wide Civics and Service Agenda, which includes the launch of the Empire State Service Corps to provide paid community service opportunities to hundreds of SUNY students each year.

Prior to his appointment as Chancellor, King served as President of The Education Trust and as the 10th United States Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, and as New York's first Black and Hispanic state education commissioner.

Lynn Cherkasky-Davis- Lynn Cherkasky-Davis is Director of Teacher Leadership and University Partnerships and Manager of National Board Certification for the Chicago Public Schools-Chicago Teachers Union Partnership. A former kindergarten teacher, she served on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' Early Childhood Generalist Standards development team and is a former member of the NBPTS Board of Directors. Cherkasky-Davis exemplifies the visionary leadership, strategic partnership, and impact that strengthen the teaching profession.

James Meadows - James Meadows, Ph.D., is the founding Dean and Director of the Washington Education Association Apprenticeship Residency in Teaching Program (WEA-ART), a union-run, educator-led teacher preparation program credentialing special education teachers in Washington state. The program is designed for aspiring educators who find joy in working with students with disabilities and their families. Most of his career has focused on educator quality and parallel work elevating the education professions. He led WEA's National Board Certification efforts over two decades, contributing to significant growth in the state's National Board Certification movement and its recognition as a model state support program. James earned a Ph.D. In Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at the University of Washington, focused on the intersection of policy and classroom practice.

WHEN & WHERE

John B. King Jr.
Virtual ceremony
March 17, 2026

Lynn Cherkasky-Davis
Chicago, Illinois
March 31, 2026

James Meadows
Washington, D.C.
May 2, 2026

QUOTE

"John King, Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, and James Meadows have been steadfast advocates for educators and unwavering champions for America's students," said Peggy Brookins, NBCT, President and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. "Their vision, commitment, and belief in the transformative power of accomplished teaching have strengthened the profession and will continue to shape the future of education."

ABOUT THE JAMES A. KELLY AWARD

Established in 1999, the James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching honors individuals who embody the legacy of the National Board's founding president and CEO: a deep belief in every child's right to a quality education, a career dedicated to improving teaching and learning, and the ability to inspire collaboration and meaningful change in American education.

Past recipients include Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama; former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley; former Governors James B. Hunt Jr. and Roy Barnes; and education leaders Linda Darling-Hammond and Ronald Thorpe.