The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has announced that Dr. L. Earl Franks has been selected by the NAESP Board to assume the role of executive director effective July 1, 2017. Franks currently serves as executive director of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), Alabama’s leading umbrella organization for principals and school administrators.

In August 2016, NAESP’s current executive director, Gail Connelly, announced her retirement following a planned transition and search for a new executive director. Connelly served as executive director for 10 years, and in recognition of her 32 years of service to NAESP, she will serve as NAESP Executive Director Emeritus upon her retirement. 

Franks will join NAESP on July 1, 2017, just prior to the National Principals Conference, which is presented jointly with the National Association of Secondary School Principals and will be held July 9-11 in Philadelphia. So if you haven’t registered for the conference yet, make sure that you do, and plan to welcome Dr. Franks and congratulate him on his new position.

About Dr. L. Earl Franks

In his nine years as CLAS executive director, Franks has been the driving force behind the organization’s innovation and growth. He administered a multimillion-dollar budget and managed tens of millions of dollars in grants. Under his leadership, CLAS achieved record membership levels in the midst of challenges such as budget cuts and rising health care costs.

Prior to serving as CLAS executive director, Franks served as a leader on the CLAS Board of Directors; before that, he developed broad experience in public education by working with the school system from top to bottom, and in all grades. Franks served as a principal from 1999 until 2008 at a pre-K through grade 12 school that served over 1,000 students. Prior to that, he earned a glowing reputation as an award-winning band director.

Franks is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow with Major Donor distinction from Rotary International and has received leadership awards from the Alabama Music Educators Association and Troy University Music Department. He is a member of the Alabama Educational Leadership Hall of Fame Governing Board, ASAE, Phi Delta Kappa International, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, ASCD, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Franks holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Samford University, a B.M.E. in music and an ED.S. in administration from Troy University. He also earned a certified association executive (CAE) credential from the ASAE Center for Association Leadership.