We are excited to announce Scott Bass as our Florida State Director, Dr. Melvin Brown as our Vice President of Client and Partner Engagement, and Amponsah Nkansah as our Director of Academic Programs!
Scott Bass is a retired distinguished educational leader with over 30 years of dedicated service in K-12 education. His career is marked by a profound commitment to improving academic outcomes, streamlining operations, and fostering an environment where students and staff thrive.
Most recently, Scott served as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools for the School District of Indian River County, a role in which he has made significant strides. Under his leadership, the district surged from a state ranking of 38th to the top 10 in the state, achieving an A grade and boosting graduation rates to 96%. His strategic initiatives include a comprehensive 5-Year District Strategic Plan, a multi-year teacher union contract, and expanded mental health support in schools. Scott’s adept handling of crisis management was evident as he successfully transitioned over 15,000 students to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously, as Superintendent of Schools for Glades County School District, Scott dramatically improved graduation rates from 60.8% to 93.4% and spearheaded the development of new educational programs and facilities. His tenure saw a notable increase in student enrollment and teacher salaries, alongside the successful implementation of the Marzano Teacher Evaluation system.
Scott's career began in the classroom as a high school teacher at Moore Haven Jr.-Sr. High School, where he was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2001. His foundational experience in education laid the groundwork for his subsequent leadership roles.
A committed member of various educational and community boards, Scott’s affiliations include the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and the Florida High School Athletic Association. He holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University and a Bachelor’s in Education from Troy State University.
Scott Bass continues to be a transformative force in education, dedicated to fostering excellence and equity in schools while advocating for the needs of students and staff alike.
Dr. Melvin J. Brown served as Superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools (AL) until November of 2024. He previously served as Superintendent of the Reynoldsburg City Schools District in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
He has served as Superintendent in Residence and Visiting Professor at The Ohio State University. Formerly, he served as Deputy Superintendent for Cuyahoga Falls City Schools (OH) and prior to that as its Director of Human Resources. He also has served as Regional Vice President for Mosaica Education Inc. and as Associate Superintendent for Prince William County Schools (VA). Additionally, he has six years of experience as an elementary school principal and two years of experience as a middle school principal.
Dr. Brown holds an Ed.D. in Educational Studies from The Ohio State University. He also holds a master’s degree in educational administration and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from James Madison University.
Dr. Brown is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and serves on several boards of directors, has chaired various committees, and is active with AASA and other national networks. He is a 2021 honoree of Central Ohio’s “A Tribute to African Americans Committee, Inc.” and is Co-Author of STEM Century: It Takes a Village to Raise a 21st Century Graduate. He is also the 2024 recipient of the Dwight D. Jones Courageous Leader Award from the Institute for Education Innovation.
Amponsah is deeply committed to providing students with an excellent, equitable education that positively shapes the trajectory of their lives and opens doors to future opportunities. With over 15 years in education, she has advanced this commitment in multiple roles, from a classroom teacher, instructional coach, school leader , to leading teams and departments of teacher and leader development programs, and executive coaching and consulting. Amponsah has extensive expertise in supporting leaders and networks through change management, as well as designing systems that drive instructional excellence.
Over the past five years, Amponsah has served as a Managing Director, where she has led a high-performing team dedicated to improving teaching practices, empowering school and system leaders, and improving student learning outcomes across the nation. Her work has had a direct and measurable impact in diverse regions across the country, including Washington State, DC, Boston, Louisiana, Ohio, Missouri, California, Illinois, and Maryland. Amponsah brings a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement, which makes her an invaluable asset to any educational organization. Her leadership has consistently resulted in tangible improvements, guiding teams to deliver comprehensive support that drives transformative gains for students' outcomes.
Amponsah's efforts have not only fostered immediate progress, but have also laid the groundwork for sustainable systems and structures that support ongoing educational success. We are thrilled to welcome Amponsah’s expertise as we deepen our commitment to transforming the lives of all children. As part of the Chief Academic Officer’s team, Amponsah will lead the development and implementation of our academic programs, ensuring they align with our highest standards of quality and meet our clients' needs.
Amponsah resides in Washington, DC, with her family and enjoys staying active, engaging with her community, and traveling to warmer destinations whenever possible.
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