Project Exploration Announces Appointment of Paige Ponder as New CEO
Education Innovator Brings Deep Experience in Student Engagement
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
Anne Tucker, Melcher+Tucker Consultants: 312-795-3556 / atucker@mtconsultants.com
Richard Melcher, Melcher+Tucker Consultants: 312-795-3550 / rmelcher@mtconsultants.com
 Chicago, October 25—Project Exploration today announced the appointment of Paige Ponderas its new Chief Executive Officer. Ponder, who will assume day-to-day operations of the Chicago-based nonprofit today, brings extensive experience in education program innovation and teacher and principal career development. Most recently, she was officer for student support and engagement for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where she led district-wide strategies for after-school activities, sports, community schooling, tutoring, and programs for homeless students and drop-out prevention.
Ponder has worked in a variety of settings, from a pre-kindergarten-8th grade Catholic school in the South Bronx to Chicago Public Schools. At CPS, she led projects aimed at systematically increasing the number of students who were on track to graduate at the end of their freshman year. She also developed a set of early warning indicators to identify students who may require support as early as kindergarten.
With Ponder’s arrival, Project Exploration co-founder and executive director Gabrielle Lyon will take on a broader set of duties in her new position as Senior Explorer, including advocacy on behalf of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education opportunities for underrepresented student populations. She will also spearhead strategic partnerships with cultural, educational, government, and philanthropic leaders, locally and nationally.
“We believe that Paige’s insight and experience will help Project Exploration at a critical moment in its growth,” said Bob Rosenberg, who chaired the board/staff search committee. “At a time when four out of five jobs require science and technology skills, Project Exploration has never been more relevant – and our opportunities have never been greater.”
“I am excited to begin my tenure at Project Exploration and to work with its talented staff, board, and extended family of students and alumni,” said Ponder. “Project Exploration’s programming has stirred the imagination and aspirations of a new generation of students in science. This is a testament to the inspiration and work of co-founders, Gabrielle Lyon and Paul Sereno and their team. I look forward to bringing the excitement of STEM education learning to a broader audience of students.”
Ponder has been involved in education throughout her career, including overseeing research and development and professional development for The Grow Network/McGraw Hill. She is a graduate of Princeton University, with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
The appointment of Ponder and the newly-created position for Lyon come as Project Exploration’s work with communities traditionally overlooked by science – particularly minority youth and girls and students who struggle academically – is poised to significantly increase student services, grow a network of like-minded youth-serving organizations, and develop ways to disseminate its model.
In 2009, Project Exploration was honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, and in 2010, the nonprofit was named a national model by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Earlier this year, an independent 10-year research study validated Project Exploration’s model that it is possible to demonstrably boost student interest in science in out-of-school settings and inspire young people to reach for new levels of academic and career achievement. This summer, Project Exploration was named one of the two best summer learning programs in the country by the National Summer Learning Association.
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