Eligibility requirements

NAEYC members in good standing are eligible for Board service. Any such member is welcome to apply for consideration by the Nominating Committee, which is responsible for constructing each year’s slate. Inclusion on the slate is contingent upon completion of background checks. Additionally, the following limitations have been placed on the selection of candidates:

• A person will not be a prospective potential candidate, potential candidate, or candidate for any other position (officer or otherwise) while serving a term on the Board, with the exception of individuals appointed to complete an unexpired term.
• A Board member who resigned prior to serving their full term will not be considered for any Board position (officer or otherwise) if the Board member resigned in order to run for any position on the Board.
• Individuals who have had a contract with NAEYC or any of its Affiliates within 12 months of the date of application are not eligible for consideration as a potential candidate (does not include honoraria).
• No former employee of NAEYC should be considered for Board service until three (3) years have passed since their last day of employment.
• It is recognized that occasionally a person with prior Board experience might represent the combination of qualities most needed by the organization, thus the possibility of nominating a person with prior Board experience is not eliminated.

 
Application

 The Governing Board Application for 2022-23 is now closed.

Guidelines: 

• Résumé: include employment history (last 10 years); professional preparation; board or related governance experience (last 10 years); and publications, awards, or other noteworthy accomplishments (last 5 years).
• Personal statement (2 pages maximum): how your knowledge, skills and abilities would contribute to NAEYC’s leadership at this point in time.
• References: two (2) professional letters of recommendation that address your strengths as a potential Board candidate. Please note: Current NAEYC Governing Board or staff members may not serve as references. One reference should be your current employer or supervisor (if self-employed, most recent client).

How the Nomination Process Works

Group interview

Members of the Nominating Committee review all submitted application materials and references. They identify a group of potential candidates who are invited to interview with the Committee in September via Zoom. Attendance is mandatory for consideration on the slate. Interviews are held with 3 or 4 potential candidates interacting with each other as the Nominating Committee observes their interactions. The process simulates to some extent the dynamics of group interaction characteristic of Board meetings. Based on the interviews, a proposed slate is identified.

Determination of the slate

After the group interviews are completed, the Nominating Committee determines its recommendations for the election slate. Two candidates will appear on the slate for each available position. All potential members of the proposed slate are required to submit to a criminal background check and sexual offender registry check by signing appropriate authorizations and consents. All potential members of the slate will be individually assessed, and decisions will be made with respect to Board membership based upon the totality of the candidate’s qualifications and the results of the background checks. See here for more information about the screening process. Once the background screenings have been successfully completed, the slate is presented to the Governing Board for approval, and then presented to the membership for election.

2022-2023 NAEYC Nominations and Election Timeline

• June 2022: Applications and deadline information posted for submission by NAEYC members interested in being considered for Board service. 
• August 15, 2022: Deadline for submission of applications 
• Mid-August 2022: Based upon its review of submitted materials, the Nominating Panel invites potential candidates to participate in group interviews. The interviews guide the selection of the slate that is recommended to the Governing Board for approval. 
• Mid-September 2022:  Group interviews (mandatory for selection) held on zoom. 
• November 2022: The slate is officially announced on the NAEYC website and at the Annual Conference. 
• January 2023: Eligible members receive voting instructions. 
• March 1, 2023: Election closes. 
• April 2023:  Newly elected Board members attend the spring Board meetings and meet with Headquarters staff as part of the Board orientation. 
• June 1, 2023: Newly elected Board members assume office. 
• July 2023:  Governing Board Meeting