FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2026
WASHINGTON – The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced the election of two new members to the CAEP Board of Directors. Cassandra Herring has been elected to fill a partial term through June 30, 2028, and Ellis Hurd has been elected to fill a partial term through June 30, 2027.
“These new members are bringing their expertise to help guide CAEP in our future work. They share a passion for educator preparation, and we welcome them to our Board of Directors,” said CAEP President Christopher A. Koch. “Cassandra and Ellis bring unique experiences to our Board of Directors and will assist us in our commitment to continuous improvement.”
New Members of the CAEP Board of Directors:
- Cassandra Herring: Herring is President, CEO, and founder of BranchED, a national professional services organization advancing educational excellence. Herring previously served as the Dean of the School of Education and Human Development at Hampton University and has more than 32 years of experience across PK-12 and higher education. Her leadership in educator preparation and institutional transformation along with her work exploring emerging technologies in education has earned national recognition.
- Ellis Hurd: Hurd is the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. He is a Professor of Middle Level Education within the school and has 28 years of teaching experience in various and diverse public middle and high school settings in Illinois and Iowa. Hurd has published on critical theory, equity and cultural responsiveness, mixed identities, and accreditation and teacher preparation in middle grades, bilingual, and urban contexts. He is Co-Editor in Chief of Middle School Journal and also serves as the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) SPA Coordinator for Middle Level Teacher Preparation and Licensure/Certification.
The CAEP Board of Directors is responsible for creating CAEP policy, handling appointments to the Accreditation Council and various committees, and reviewing the performance and activities of CAEP. The Board is also responsible for approving the organization’s annual budget and independent audits.
CAEP is a national accrediting body for educator preparation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. Currently, approximately six hundred educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP accreditation system.
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (www.CAEPnet.org) advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.