Media Contact:
Zak Kolsky
NEA Health Information Network
202-822-7778
[email protected]
Washington, DC…The Board of Directors of the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN) is pleased to announce Jim Bender as NEA HIN’s next executive director. Bender begins his leadership of NEA HIN on July 15.
“With its affiliation to the National Education Association, NEA HIN is in a unique position to address urgent safety and health challenges facing our schools,” said Bender. “I am honored and excited about the opportunity to work for NEA HIN and collaborate with its partners and NEA members to help make sure every student is ready to learn.”
“Jim’s creative vision will advance NEA HIN’s mission to improve the health and safety of educators and students,” said Cary Sennett, NEA HIN Board president. “Jim brings the right combination of exceptional knowledge of education and school-based health issues, a deep understanding of partnerships, strong managerial skills, and personal passion for the issues.”
Prior to joining NEA HIN, Bender served as Senior Associate at Booz Allen, where he led the marketing communications practice for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Director for the Center for Health Communication at the Academy for Educational Development, where he helped direct the start-up and implementation of We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition), funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a national effort designed to give parents, caregivers, and entire communities ways to help children eight to 13 years old maintain a healthy weight. Bender also worked to create resources for diverse organizations, including the School Nutrition Association, the CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health, and the National Coalition for Food Safe Schools.
A Certified Health Education Specialist, Bender holds a Master of Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins’ School of Public Health, a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University’s School of Drama, and a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University. Bender was a secondary school classroom teacher for two years in the East African nation of Malawi and has been a long time Sunday school teacher for elementary and middle school children. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and three children. He serves as a deacon at the Alfred Street Baptist Church.
Bender replaces outgoing NEA HIN Executive Director Jerry Newberry who is retiring after 17 years of service.
About the National Education Association Health Information Network
As the non-profit health and safety arm of the NEA, the NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN) provides health and safety information to over 3 million educational employees served by NEA and their 43 million students. NEA HIN distributes information nationally through NEA’s 51 state/territory affiliates as well as through its almost 15,000 local education associations. For more information, please visit https://www.neahin.org/