ABOUT US : Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT
Henry (Hank) G. Cram, Ed.D.

Dr. Cram was appointed Executive Director of the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSCSS) in July of 2005 following a long affiliation with MSA as a member of the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, chair of both domestic and overseas evaluation teams, and representative for the Association at various conferences.

Dr. Cram has been involved in education for over 35 years. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, Dr. Cram served as the Director of Staff Development for the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA). He has held a variety of teaching and administrative positions in New York and New Jersey including Superintendent of Schools for the Rancocas Valley Regional School District from 1988 to 2003. In addition, he has been a part-time lecturer at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education and an Instructor in the New Jersey Provisional Teacher Program at Rowan University.

Dr. Cram holds degrees from William Paterson University, Montclair State University, Fordham University and a doctorate in Educational Administration from Rutgers University. He has served as a consultant to school districts on a variety of topics and is the author of numerous works, including two books on change in public education and brain-based instructional practices.

Dr. Cram can be reached at hcram <at>css-msa.org or 215-662-5603

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kenneth D. Kastle, Ed.D.

Dr. Kastle joined Middle States as an Associate Director in August, 1999 and was appointed Deputy Executive Director in November 2004. Dr. Kastle served as a social studies teacher, assistant principal, and as a high school principal, all within the Centennial School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He earned his undergraduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University, his master's degree from Temple University, and his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kastle oversees development of the Commission’s accreditation protocols and processes. Dr. Kastle also works with all secondary and post-secondary career & technology schools and is responsible for overseeing the Commission's authorization by the U.S. Secretary of Education for recognition as an accrediting agency that enables post-secondary schools to be eligible for Title IV funds. Dr. Kastle was formerly a member of the AFG Advisory Committee and chaired numerous AFG Validation Team visits before joining the staff.

Dr. Kastle can be reached at kkastle <at>css-msa.org or 215-662-5603

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR for NORTHERN REGIONS
Jacqueline L. Gilbert

Mrs. Gilbert, the newest staff member at CSS, joined Middle States in July 2006. A longtime volunteer for the organization, Mrs. Gilbert brings experience from team service, from team chairing, and from membership on the Strategic Planning Reports Advisory Committee. Mrs. Gilbert holds degrees from Douglass College (Rutgers University) and William Paterson University. Her experience includes teaching at the elementary, high school and college levels, curriculum design and performance assessment. Mrs. Gilbert most recently served as the World Languages Curriculum Supervisor for the West Orange School District. Her responsibilities with CSS include service to all public schools in the northern New Jersey and eastern New York region.

Mrs. Gilbert can be reached at jgilber <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5036

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR for CIWA
C. Steven Heft

Mr. Heft joined the Middle States Association in July 2002. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington and Jefferson College and his M.A. in Psychology at Temple University. Subsequent graduate studies, pursued at Temple and at Rowan University, led to certifications as a school psychologist and as a school administrator. After nearly twenty-five years of service in schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Mr. Heft worked for the New Jersey Department of Treasury on teams conducting reviews of public school districts across the state. As the Associate Director for the Committee on Institution-Wide Accreditation (CIWA), Mr. Heft acts as the liaison between the Elementary and Secondary Commissions. In addition, he is a primary link between MSA and member schools, or those seeking accreditation, when the grade range includes both elementary and secondary levels, as well as the contact for all schools located overseas, regardless of their grade levels.

Mr. Heft can be reached at sheft <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5042

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR for NONPUBLIC and DISTANCE LEARNING INSTITUTIONS
Patrick Johnson

Mr. Johnson joined the Middle States team in January 2008. He has served as chair of several teams visiting teams. Mr. Johnson’s background includes many years in public and nonpublic education as a teacher and administrator. He was a teacher for 8 years and an administrator for 19 years. He served as an elementary principal for 6 years, a secondary principal for 4 years, a supervisor for 1 year and as a superintendent for 8 years. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Salisbury University and has undertaken post-graduate and doctoral work at Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Johnson’ primary responsibilities are working with Nonpublic and Distance Learning Institutions.

Mr. Johnson can be reached at pjohnson <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5035

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR for CARIBBEAN SCHOOLS
Mary Ann Keeley, Ed.D.

Dr. Keeley, an associate with the Commission on Elementary Schools, works with all schools, regardless of their grade level located in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. She also serves as the liaison to the Caribbean Advisory Committee.

Dr. Keeley can be reached at mkeeley <at>ces-msa.org or 610-617-1103

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR for PUBLIC SCHOOLS and CHARTER SCHOOLS
Lynn McLean

Mrs. McLean joined Middle States in July 2003. Mrs. McLean's experience includes teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, program development, consulting and evaluation for students with special needs, and building level administration. She has completed doctoral coursework at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan. Mrs. McLean's responsibilities at CSS include working with the AFG protocol, as well as with public school members and the growing membership of charter schools in the region. In addition, Mrs. McLean serves as liaison to the Strategic Planning Reports Advisory Committee and will oversee workshop offerings.

Mrs. McLean can be reached at lmclean <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5040

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR for WESTERN REGIONS
John Plesha, Ph.D.

Dr. Plesha conducts workshops, performs technical reviews of accreditation objectives, and provides support for public and private schools in the western portions of Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. He also analyzes team reports in preparation of Advisory and Commission meetings and coordinates all CSI and Reflections Five-Year Renewal visits and reports. Having completed a long career as a public school teacher and administrator, Dr. Plesha is the retired principal of Seneca Valley High School and currently serves on the adjunct-faculty at Duquesne University.

Dr. Plesha can be reached at jplesha<at>css-msa.org or 412-487-6612

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR for CIWA
Kelly Christian

Ms. Christian joined the Middle States Association in November 2007. She has a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University. Her experiences abroad, ranging from a semester of study in Spain to working with students in Latin America and Africa, provides an international perspective to the Middle States Association. As Assistant Director for CIWA, Ms. Christian works with Mr. Heft on those schools with both elementary and secondary grade levels, as well as with all the overseas schools engaged in the accreditation process through MSA.

Ms. Christian can be reached at kchristian <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5037

IT Coordinator
James Green

Mr. Green joined the Middle States Association in July 2004 in the position of Assistant Director for CIWA. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from The College of William and Mary. As the IT coordinator, Mr. Green oversees the use of technology in the MSA office.

Mr. Green can be reached at jgreen <at>css-msa.org

EVALUATION SERVICES COORDINATOR
Suzanne Ogle

Ms. Ogle joined the staff in April, 2000. She has an Associate Arts degree from Villanova University. Her background in the travel industry managing a travel agency and working for an international airline has been a wonderful asset in servicing the needs of our international clientele. Ms. Ogle has the responsibility for building the evaluation teams for all stateside schools undergoing accreditation.

Ms. Ogle can be reached at sogle <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5034

MEETINGS AND MAILINGS PROJECT ASSISTANT
Ms. Berlyn Graham

With twenty-five years of service at CSS, Ms. Graham is our staff's senior member. Her responsibilities include all support work for workshops and Advisory Committee meetings. She makes reservations and sends confirmations and directions to workshop attendees. She also assists with all major mailings to member schools and ensures that Committee and Commission members have materials for their meetings. Ms. Graham also manages the reporting for Act 48 hours for all team volunteers and workshop attendees. Ms. Graham also handles all orders for banners, embossers, and parent brochures.

Ms. Graham can be reached at lgraham <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5038

INFORMATION & BILLING SPECIALIST
Ms. Leslie Green

Ms. Green joined the staff in 1986 as a secretary for the Commission on Higher Education. After two years, she moved to the Commission on Secondary Schools and has become the primary conduit to the CSS database. Her responsibilities include the maintenance of all information about our member schools. She serves as liaison to the Association Office for all billing questions and answers. Ms. Green also oversees the preparation of materials for the semi-annual Commission meetings and handles all progress reports for those schools addressing the maintenance of accreditation under a traditional protocol.

Ms. Green can be reached at lgreen <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5039

CIWA PROJECT ASSISTANT
Ms. Ira Zunjevic

Ms. Zunjevic joined the MSA staff as the CIWA Project Assistant in the summer of 2004. Her current duties include staff support for all CIWA activities, with primary responsibility for maintaining the database and files for all CIWA members. In addition, Ms Zunjevic manages team building activities for all domestic CIWA schools. Prior to her MSA experience, Ms. Zunjevic, a graduate of the University of Rijeka, taught Art and Art History in her native Croatia. In the U.S., she served as an evaluator of the School Assessment Tests, and she worked as a Graphic Production Coordinator following completion of a program in Graphic Design.

Ms. Zunjevic can be reached at izunjevic <at>css-msa.org or 267-284-5033