(Columbus, Ohio) August 8, 2022 — Business Professionals of America (BPA) is pleased to announce the selection of Sheila K. Morris as the new Director of Education and Professional Learning, effective August 15.

Ms. Morris is joining BPA from the Tennessee Department of Education, where she has served as the Industry Credentials and Professional Development Manager in the Division of College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE). While at the department, she led many educational leadership programs, including the Occupational License New Teacher Training and the New CTE Director Academy. She also managed the Tennessee Promoted Industry Credential List approval process.

A highly sought-after presenter and training facilitator, Ms. Morris has created strategies for high-quality instruction and has developed training curriculum for adult learners. Her expertise in professional development and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study has allowed her to create frameworks to improve and sustain professional learning for audiences including administrators, teachers, and students.

“Both education and professional learning have always been my passion, and now I can do what I love in an even bigger and more exciting way. I cannot wait to build healthy relationships with the BPA state advisors, classroom educators, and other key stakeholders across the country,” said Ms. Morris.

Ms. Morris’s proven leadership, dedication, and strong project management skills have allowed her to train and prepare more than 1,000 new teachers in Tennessee by helping them create lesson plans and curriculum maps and identifying strategies to effectively teach standards for their content areas. She has also provided ongoing professional development to more than 150 CTE directors and for the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) in Tennessee.

“Welcoming Sheila to the BPA family is a major win for our beloved organization. Her impressive track record proves that she is quite an accomplished educational leader, expert trainer, masterful content creator, innovative project manager, and strong advocate for CTE teachers and students. She will, indeed, help us take BPA to new heights,” said Steven J. Mitchell, BPA’s Executive Director/CEO.

As a member of the Educator Advisory Board for the Memphis Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, Ms. Morris is also a trained site visitor for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Ms. Morris earned a B.A. in Political Science from Alabama A&M University and an M.A. in Public Administration from Tennessee State University. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.