Our Leadership

Meet NWEA's leaders: our executive officers and board of directors.

Executive Officers

  • Matt Chapman - President & Chief Executive Officer
  • Karl Boekelheide - Vice President & Chief Quality Officer
  • Ginger Hopkins - Vice President of Partner Relations
  • Suketu Pandya - Chief Technology Officer
  • Jeff Strickler - Chief Operating Officer
  • Steven Wise - Vice President of Research and Development
  • Raymond Yeagley - Vice President & Chief Academic Officer                                                           
  • Donna Schultz - Vice President of Product Management and Test Services 

Board of Directors

 

Executive Officers

 

Matt Chapman
President & Chief Executive Officer

As President and CEO, Matt Chapman leads the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) in achieving its vision for kid-centric education based on comprehensive and accurate data.

Matt has combined business careers with a volunteer career focused on education. Matt co-founded a program for street youth that includes an award-winning alternative school. Matt served on the board of OMSI, focusing on its strategic plan and programs for distance learning in science. As a regent for the University of Portland, he also serves as a mentor for students in the entrepreneurship program.

Matt practiced law for 13 years, and then became CEO of CFI ProServices, Inc., a publicly traded company where he served for 13 years. CFI received recognition in local and national lists of rapidly growing companies, and was listed as one of the 10 best places to work in Oregon four years in a row.

Matt received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Portland in 1971, and a J.D. from the University of Oregon Law School in 1974.

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Karl Boekelheide
Vice President & Chief Quality Officer

Karl joined Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) in 2003, primarily serving in the role of Vice President of Engineering and Development. In 2007 Karl was charged with leading the organization in a dedicated focus of building and establishing consistent quality processes and metrics into NWEA as Chief Quality Officer.

Prior to coming to NWEA, Karl was a founder and served as Chairman of STEP Technology, a software engineering firm that was instrumental in the building of NWEA's cornerstone product, MAP (Measures of Academic Progress). Karl has also been a college lecturer and researcher as well as a circuit designer. Additionally, he managed the research group at the University of Utah for Burroughs.

Karl received his Masters Degree in Math at the University of Oregon and did post graduate work in computer science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

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Ginger Hopkins
Vice President of Partner Relations

Prior to joining Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) in 2006, Ginger served in public education for over 20 years as a teacher and administrator. As VP of Partner Relations she leads all aspects of the organization's work with partners including enrollment, development, and support.

Ginger's greatest accomplishments can be measured by the growth that individual students have made, either from her direct impact in the classroom, or her indirect influence in administration and in her current capacity.

Ginger received her Bachelor of Arts degree and teacher certifications from Cedar Crest College. She received a Master's in School Administration from Wayne State University.

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Suketu Pandya
Chief Technology Officer

Suketu joined Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) in 2007 as Chief Technology Officer and is responsible for overall technology investments and direction. His leadership also extends to the development, delivery and fulfillment of NWEA's product and services.

Prior to coming to NWEA, Suketu held leadership roles at Centrisoft, Amdahl and Sync Research as well as consulting roles at a number of high-profile technology companies. Suketu brings to NWEA an impeccable track record of working closely with customers and engineers to deliver practical and cost effective products.

Suketu received his Master of Science degree from the State of University of New York and Bachelor of Technology from IIT, Bombay, India.

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Jeff Strickler
Chief Operating Officer

Jeff joined Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) in 2007. In addition to his role as Chief Operating Officer, Jeff also serves as NWEA's CFO and Vice President of Corporate Services. Jeff brings to NWEA more than 20 years of experience helping organizations attain their goals, first as an attorney at Perkins Coie and later in various leadership roles at notable Northwest companies, including CFI ProServices/Harland Financial System, Vesta Corporation, Centrisoft Corporation and CakeBoxx LLC.

At CFI ProServices, Jeff was Vice President and General Counsel from 1994 through its acquisition by Harland Financial Services Systems in 2000. He was the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Vesta Corporation during a critical time in that company's expansion. Jeff has served as the Chief Operating Officer at both Centrisoft Corporation and CakeBoxx LLC, a startup company engaged in developing a new, more secure design for international shipping containers.

Jeff received a B.S. in Business Administration from Oregon State University in 1982 and J.D. degree from the University at Berkeley (Boalt Hall) in 1985.

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Steven Wise
Vice President of Research and Development

Steven Wise is the Vice President of Research and Development for the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). Before joining NWEA in 2008, he established the Institute for Computer-Based Assessment at James Madison University and spent 10 years as a Professor of Psychology, teaching in JMU's Ph.D. program in Assessment and Measurement. Prior to his time at JMU, Dr. Wise taught for 15 years in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has taught a variety of courses in applied measurement and statistics, including introductory and intermediate statistical methods, correlation methods, meta-analysis, measurement theory, item response theory, and computer-based testing. Dr. Wise has published extensively during the past two decades in applied measurement, with particular emphasis in computer-based testing and the psychology of test taking. In addition, he sits on the editorial board of several academic journals and provides psychometric consultation to a variety of organizations.

Steven received his Ph.D. in educational measurement and statistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign in 1981.

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Raymond Yeagley
Vice President & Chief Academic Officer

Raymond is Vice President of Business Development, Product Management and Test Services for Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). In addition to creating and managing strategic business partnerships for NWEA, Raymond's team is responsible for leading in the design, development, release and support of NWEA's assessments and data products, including the creation of items and tests used to measure student growth and performance.

Prior to joining NWEA in 2005, Raymond enjoyed a twenty-nine year career as teacher, principal and superintendent of schools. His tenure included seven years as superintendent of Alexander Local School District in Ohio and seventeen years as superintendent in Rochester, New Hampshire. During this service, he gained a national reputation for his understanding and effective use of data to improve instruction and increase student learning. He is a widely published author, respected presenter and has been privileged to actively participate in and lead several professional organizations, including a term as chair of the National Forum on Education Statistics.

Raymond received his Bachelors in Music Education at the University of Utah in 1972, earned a Masters in Secondary Education in 1979, and received an Ed.D. in School Administration in 1981. Both graduate degrees were earned at Indiana University in Bloomington.

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Donna Schultz
Vice President of Product Management and Test Services

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Board of Directors

 

Dr. Jim Angermeyr
Director of Research and Evaluation for Bloomington Public Schools in Minnesota

Dr. Angermeyr helped implement the first NWEA testing program in the state of Minnesota more than 15 years ago. Since then, more than 300 schools and districts have become MAP users throughout the state. Dr. Angermeyr served on NWEA's board of directors from 1999-2001 and rejoined in 2006. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota.

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Dr. Ronald Blocker
Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools

Dr. Blocker has worked for Orange County Public Schools since 1977, before becoming superintendent in 2000. Dr. Blocker has set ambitious goals for his district, which include pursuing high academic standards, maintaining a high-performing and dedicated work force and involving the community on important issues. Under his leadership, the district has increased Advanced Placement enrollment and participation, aggressively moved to narrow the achievement gap in minority populations, has developed a comprehensive academic plan for the district and has embarked on one of the largest school capital programs in the state. Thirteen OCPS high schools made Newsweek's "Top of the Class" list, announced in May 2008. Because of his influence in the community, Blocker was ranked #9 on Orlando Magazine's "50 Most Powerful People in Central Florida" list, published in July 2008.

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Dr. Brenda M. Tanner
Superintendent of Madison County Public Schools

Dr. Tanner has more than 25 years of experience in education in Virginia as a teacher, staff developer, administrator, and assistant professor. Prior to becoming superintendent, she served as Chief Academic and Personnel Officer for Horry County Public Schools in South Carolina, a district with more than 30,000 students and 4,000 employees. Before going to South Carolina, she directed a professional development consortium for the University of Virginia, working with the Curry School of Education and twenty Virginia school divisions. Ms. Tanner has been an NWEA board member since 2005. She holds a BA in Elementary Education from Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Virg, an M. Ed. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Virginia and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Virginia.

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Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson
Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools

Dr. Goodloe-Johnson has been Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools since July of 2007 and is responsible for the learning, teaching and operational activities of more than 45,000 students and 7,900 staff members throughout the Seattle Public School District. Previously, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson was the Superintendent of Charleston County School District in South Carolina, where she oversaw 43,000 students and 5,500 employees. Dr. Goodloe-Johnson has been extraordinarily involved in advancing public education and supporting families and children throughout her more than 20-year career as an educator, administrator and leader. In addition to NWEA, she currently serves on the Broad Advisory Board and was selected to participate as a 2008 Fellow in the Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education program. She has also been involved on the boards of the National High School Alliance, National Board of Middle Grades Reform, National Conference for Community and Justice and the American Heart Association.

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Lynn Fielding
Tax and business attorney, author, co-founder of The Children's Reading Foundation

Lynn Fielding has served for 22 years as a director of Kennewick Schools, eight years as a director of the Washington State School Directors Association, and has served on the Board of Directors for Northwest Evaluation Association since 2002. He has presented at numerous National and State School Board Association and reading conferences nationwide. Co-founder of The Children's Reading Foundation, initial author of its READY! for Kindergarten curriculum, author of Extraordinary Parents (2009), and co-author of  Annual Growth for All Students, Catch-up Growth for Those Who Are Behind (2007), Delivering on the Promise, (2004) and The 90% Reading Goal, (1997).  Lynn presents and consults with school districts interested in leveraged educational reform from birth through grade 12. With an LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University, he is a tax and business lawyer.

 

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Dr. Joseph J. Wise
Chief Education Officer for EdisonLearning

Dr. Wise is former superintendent of the nation's 20th largest public-school system, Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida as well as the largest school district in Delaware, the Christina School District in Wilmington. In his current role as Chief Education Officer for EdisonLearning, Dr. Wise is responsible for the direction and management of the company's overall education programs. In his work as a superintendent in Jacksonville, Dr. Wise led achievement gains across the board, enjoying particular success designing systems to improve learning among children of color. His doctoral dissertation was an analysis of how best to recruit and retain African-American teachers in urban public school systems. He also led the adoption of Florida's most rigorous high school graduation requirements while also increasing the high-school graduation rate. From 1998 to 2002, he was Chairman and CEO of eSchool Solutions, Inc., an education technology company in Orlando, Florida. He has also served in key management and organizational development roles in one of the best-known brands in the entertainment business - the Walt Disney World Co.

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Darlene Hooley
Former teacher and politician

Darlene Hooley is a former teacher and politician who represented Oregon’s 5th Congressional District as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1996 to 2008.

Darlene attended Salem Academy and earned her degree in education from Oregon State University in 1961. Following graduation she taught reading, music, and high school physical education for eight years at schools in Woodburn, Gervais, and Portland.

Darlene entered politics in 1975 when she was elected to serve as the first woman on the West Linn, Oregon, City Council, a position she held for four years. She was elected to the Oregon State Legislature in 1980 and served as a Democrat representing Clackamas County.Darlene chaired the environmental and energy committees, and chaired the education subcommittee of the ways and means committee. She left in 1987 to accept a position on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, a post she held until 1996

In 1996, Darlene was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. In her first term in the U.S. House, she was elected House Democratic freshman class president, and went on to serve as a member of the House Financial Services, Veterans' Affairs, Science and Technology, Energy and Commerce, and Budget committees. She was a House Senior Whip for the Democratic Party and a member of the New Democrat Coalition. She served six terms in the House before stepping down in 2009.

 

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