Press Releases

January 27, 2006
New Technology Foundation Board Changes

Napa, CA – At the annual New Technology Foundation Board meeting held on January 21, 2006, a number of exciting changes were made. Outgoing Chairman Dave Buurma, welcomed new Board chair, Will Wyman, to the seat. Wyman is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch and has been an active NTF Board member for 3 years.

Kathleen O’Dowd, from O’Dowd Franklin & Rabanal LLP, was appointed Vice Chair. New Board members, Jon Bowman, Chief Operating Officer with Zapolski & Rudd, LLC, and Katja Loeffelholz, Intellectual Property attorney with Gaw Van Male, were welcomed to the Board. Sonia Wright, Executive Director of the Napa Valley College Foundation, also joined the NTF Board continuing the strong presence of Napa Valley Community College in the work of high school reform. Dr. Chris McCarthy, president of NVCC, ended his 3 year term in November.

Buzz Butler, one of the founding businessmen for both New Technology High School (NTHS) and New Technology Foundation (NTF), was honored at the meeting, recognized for his visionary leadership and thanked for his extensive support to both organizations over the last 15 years.
Dave Buurma has been on the NTF Board for 3 years and served as chair for 2 years. He will remain an active member of the NTF Board. ‘Serving on the NTF Board has been an incredible experience.” said Buurma. “ Not only having first hand knowledge of the NTHS model of high school education through the experiences of our two daughters, but seeing the challenges to making the model equally effective in the growing national network of schools who are emulating the model has been an eye-opening experience.”

In-coming Chair, Wyman, has already witnessed fast paced growth in New Technology Foundation, “The growth of the New Technology Foundation reflects the growing national and international interest in this innovative way of preparing our students for success in college and beyond through Project Based Learning.’ said Wyman. We are very proud of our flagship school, Napa NTHS, because it is one of the only school reform models nationally that focuses on preparing students with 21st Century skills, which includes internship requirements, eight units of college course credit from Napa Valley College, and digital media presentations. All in addition to mastery of all the content knowledge required of every NVUSD student.

NTHS serves as the flagship school in a growing network of NTHS schools across the country. In 2005 alone, over 700 visitors came to Napa to tour the school and learn about its unique model for 21st Century education. NTF supports the school and assists other communities in replicating the NTHS model. “This 15 member all-volunteer Board of local business and community leaders is truly an inspiring group to work with, ‘ said NTF CEO Susan Schilling.” Their dedication to NTHS is intense. Their desire to provide the highest quality experience for all stakeholders in the school is unequivocal, and the guidance they have provided as we transition our organization from a local resource to a national force for high school reform is without parallel.”

Returning Board members are Dr. David E. Brown, Executive Director of Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Carolyn Ferris, Interim Director, NTHS, Ted Fujimoto, Vice President California Charter Schools Association, John Glaser, Superintendent, Napa Valley Unified School District, Rob Kusel, Senior Consultant, Essex & Drake, Deborah Steinthal of Scion Advisors and Stephanie Chu of Net-Flow.

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New Technology Foundation, www.newtechfoundation.org, supports the creation of new small high schools based on the Napa New Technology High School Model, thereby offering a concrete model for how national education reform can be accomplished. NTF is creating an NTHS Network across the country with schools in California, Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, Illinois and Louisiana, with additional schools opening in North Carolina, Texas and New York over the next two years.. For more information, visit the website, or phone (707) 253-6951.

Contact:
Susan Schilling, CEO | (707) 253-4287