P-16 Council Members

The Wyoming P-16 Education Council is a non-partisan, non-governmental, non-profit partnership of state leaders from business, education, and government. The P-16 Education Council seeks to create greater coherence in Wyoming's education system from pre-Kindergarten through the baccalaureate degree (P-16). The council consists of the following individuals and the agencies they represent.

Executive Committee

  1. Rollin Abernethy, President, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, representing the President of the University of Wyoming, founding member
  2. Michael Ceballos, Vice President, President -Qwest Wyoming, representing the business sector and the public
  3. Kathryn Valido, Treasurer, President of the Wyoming Education Association, representing K-16 school employees
  4. Joe Simpson, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, representing State Superintendent of Public Instruction, founding member
  5. Joe McCann, Wyoming Community College Commission, Programs Team Manager

Council Members

  1. Rob Black, Governor’s appointee, Department of Workforce Services
  2. Rep. Bernadine Craft, Member, Legislature’s Joint Education Committee, representing policymakers
  3. Sen. Hank Coe, Co-Chair, Legislature’s Joint Education Committee, representing policymakers,
  4. Carol Kirkwood, Laramie High School teacher with 37 years of experience, representing P-16 educators
  5. Audrey Kleinsasser, Director and Professor, Wyoming School-University Partnership, representing post-secondary education
  6. Karla Leach, President of Western Wyoming Community College, Governor’s appointee
  7. Jim Lowham, Deputy of Planning, Wyoming School Facilities Commission, former Natrona Co. District Superintendent
  8. Sen. Mike Massie, representing early childhood education
  9. Bill Sniffin, President and CEO, Wyoming Inc; Governor’s appointee, representing the business sector and the public
  10. Carol Stewart, Sheridan High School, Reading Facilitator/Specialist, representing P-16 educators
  11. Charles Ware, representing the business sector and the public, founding member

Council retreat, 2010
Wyoming P-16 Education Council members converse during a council retreat in Riverton, June 8-10, 2010.

Council retreat, 2010
Mike Ceballos (Qwest Wyoming) and Rob Black (Department of Workforce Services) participated in the Wyoming P-16 Education Council retreat in June 2010.