MDEA Board of Directors​

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Executive Committee

​President: Darryl Pilate

(until 10/31/26)​

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Past President: Sandra Atkinson

(until 10/31/26)

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Secretary: Liz Quiñones

(until 10/31/25)

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Treasurer: Jill Vasbinder Morrison

(until 10/31/25)

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Executive Member at Large: Eva Gonzalez-Dorsey

(until 10/31/2025)

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General Board Members at Large – November 1, 2024 - October 31, 2026​

K-12 Administration: Kerry McWithey (until 10/31/2027)

K-12 Public Schools: Marsinah Vaughn

K-12 Private/Parochial/Independent Schools: Kelsy Rupp

Private Studios: Katlin Magruther

Post-Secondary Education: Ann Sofie Clemmensen

NHSDA Liaison: Tiffany Alastanos

Teaching Artist/Professional Company: Alex LeRoux-Watkins (Krebs)

Community Organization: Breai Williams​

Student: Gwyneth Watson

Somatics: Crystal Davis 

Advocacy: Alison Seidenstricker

Membership: Jacklyn Martin & Angela Romeo

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Past Presidents

2022-2024 - Sandra Atkinson

2020-2022 - Melinda Blomquist

2018-2020 - Sonia Synkowski

2016-2018 - Suzie Henneman

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Founding Board of Directors

Suzie Henneman

Karen Kuebler 

Sonia Synkowski​

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Board Positions Overview

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Member-at-Large Position & Understudies              

Members at large represent their constituencies as members on the board and create/chair sub committees to address and present initiatives integral to their represented populations. The board meets four times per year, every three months - January, April, July and October.

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• K-12 Public Schools   

• K-12 Independent/Private/Parochial Schools

• K-12 Administrative

• Post-Secondary

• Private Studio

• Teaching Artist/Professional Company

• Community Organization

• Student

• Somatics

• NHSDA Liaison

• Advocacy+

• Somatics+

• Membership+

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Each constituency will have an elected understudy voted on by the membership. The understudy is a non-voting position for one year and will assume the member-at-large (voting) position for two years. The member-at-large and the understudy will be in consistent communication regarding initiatives, current board related information, and board meeting attendance.

 

+The Advocacy, Somatics, and Membership positions will not be limited to the term limit of two years and can be re-appointed with consent of the member and president. This position will be a voting position on the board.

 

An elected board member (both Executive and Members at Large)  may be nominated for a second term, but not a third consecutive term, with their consent. Four years is the maximum term limit as a voting board member.

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The Executive Committee (E.C.) Members

• Past-President - 2 year term

• President - 2 year term, then Past-President

• President-Elect - 1 year term, then President

• Secretary - 2 year term

• Treasurer - 2 year term

• Executive Board Member at Large - 1 year term (elected on the alternate year as President-Elect)

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The E.C. will meet at least four times a year in accordance with the bylaws and when necessary to conduct the business of the association.  The executive board meets regularly in order to carry forth the mission of the organization. Email communication is a minimum of biweekly.

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President shall:

• preside at all meetings of the Board, the annual meeting and special meetings of the general membership and call special meetings as necessary

• act as representative to NDEO and attend the national conference

• serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominations/Elections Committee

• sign all legal documents & financial documents (w/the secretary and treasurer respectively)

• perform all acts incident to the office of the President

• appoint a member to serve in an Advocacy capacity on the board

• have availability via email and phone conference with Executive Committee on a weekly basis

 

President-Elect shall:

• assist the President and perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the President or by the Board of Directors

• perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President during the absence or disability of the President, or at the request of the President, and carry out any other duties assigned by the President and/or these bylaws

• oversee special projects in collaboration with the designated committee chairs

• plan the NDEO Social, other committee work, and assist with Parliamentary Procedures

 

Past-President shall:

• advise and assist the President in their duties and responsibilities

• assist with the planning of the annual convention and other events

• serve as an ambassador for the MDEA at local, state, and national events, meetings, and conferences.

• will serve a term of two years following their two-year term as President.  The Past-President will guide and advise the President during their two-year term thus the Past President and President will have coinciding years in office.

• will continue to serve in a voting capacity during their term and serve on other committees as needed.

• chair the Elections Committee

 

Secretary shall:

• take attendance and keep minutes of all meetings of the Board, the annual and special meetings of the general membership

• distribute and maintain meeting minutes and action items

• maintain archives of the organization

• assist the President in providing notification of all regular and special meetings of both board and membership

• represent MDEA at a variety of events throughout the state

• perform other duties as directed by the President, or the Board including, but not limited to:

  • assist in website maintenance and updates

  • maintain inventory of MDEA merchandise and other promotional materials

  • arrangement and transportation of MDEA merchandise and other promotional materials

  • outreach to new members

 

Treasurer shall:

• be custodian of all funds for MDEA, be responsible for all receipts and disbursements of MDEA funds and keep a record of the accounts; prepare a report at each Board meeting

• receive a monthly electronic membership database from NDEO and compare it to MDEA records

• administer the annual filing with the MD Department of Taxation and Assessments

• prepare an annual financial report/budget for the annual meeting and an annual operating budget for board approval

• assist in the preparation of final reports to any public or private granting agency

• coordinate and oversee filing, payment and notification of all state and federal non-profit requirements (e.g. insurance coverage) for the organization.

• perform other duties as directed by the President, or the Board

 

Executive Board Member at Large (elected in the year when there is no President-Elect) shall: 

• assist the President and perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the President or by the Board of Directors

• assist with the planning of the annual convention and other events

• develop and lead an initiative that supports the mission of the organization and aligns to an identified need

• plan the NDEO Social, other committee work, and assist with Parliamentary Procedures

 

E.C. Understudy Positions:

• Secretary: The understudy is a non-voting position for one year and will assume the officer position for two years. In the case of an absence of the Secretary at a board meeting, the understudy will assume a voting role. The officer and the understudy will be in consistent communication regarding initiatives, current board related information, and board meeting attendance.  

• Treasurer: The understudy is a non-voting position for one year and will assume the officer position for two years. In the case of an absence of the Treasurer at a board meeting, the understudy will assume a voting role. The officer and the understudy will be in consistent communication regarding initiatives, current board related information, and board meeting attendance.

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