NEP History
NEP was created in 1997 when representatives of Stetson University, the National Education Association (NEA), Performance Learning Systems (PLS) and the Walt Disney Corporation first met in Washington, D.C. With three years of funding from the Ford Foundation, and additional funding from from the Walt Disney Corporation, the National Educator Program was born. Its goal was to provide world-class staff development to classroom teachers, school administrators and district-level administration on best practices for classroom instruction and successful school change. NEP was based in Florida from 1997-2007 and served as a division of Stetson University and later, Performance Learning Systems.
On May 1, 2008 NEP incorporated as an autonomous agency and in 2010 was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. Now, NEP has offices in Denver and New York, a lab school in Brooklyn, is internationally recognized, and continues to focus on best practices and helping educators increase their students' successes.
Far Left: Robert Werner, NEP Director 1997-2000
Near Left: Mark A. Thompson, NEP Director 2000-present
On May 1, 2008 NEP incorporated as an autonomous agency and in 2010 was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. Now, NEP has offices in Denver and New York, a lab school in Brooklyn, is internationally recognized, and continues to focus on best practices and helping educators increase their students' successes.
Far Left: Robert Werner, NEP Director 1997-2000
Near Left: Mark A. Thompson, NEP Director 2000-present
NEP Iconography
NEP COLORS
NEP's colors are dark green and gold. Stetson University in Florida chose green as its school color to "represent the dark green, glossy leaves of Florida orange trees." To show connection to Stetson University where NEP was housed, and because of our Florida roots, NEP adopted the dark green color.
NEP selected a second color to distinguish it from Stetson, and added gold. Gold being the standard of quality and value NEP wished to uphold, and as a tribute to the University of South Florida in Tampa whose colors are green and gold, to whom NEP also has close ties.
NEP's colors are dark green and gold. Stetson University in Florida chose green as its school color to "represent the dark green, glossy leaves of Florida orange trees." To show connection to Stetson University where NEP was housed, and because of our Florida roots, NEP adopted the dark green color.
NEP selected a second color to distinguish it from Stetson, and added gold. Gold being the standard of quality and value NEP wished to uphold, and as a tribute to the University of South Florida in Tampa whose colors are green and gold, to whom NEP also has close ties.
THE LIGHTHOUSE
The lighthouse is a common motif in NEP logos, literature and discussion. It relates to a keynote address first given by NEP Director Mark A. Thompson in 1998. It represents a reminder to all educators not to be sidetracked by distractions and pressures from the outside, but to stay true to their love of education and to their original mission: Making a difference in the lives of young people.
The lighthouse is a common motif in NEP logos, literature and discussion. It relates to a keynote address first given by NEP Director Mark A. Thompson in 1998. It represents a reminder to all educators not to be sidetracked by distractions and pressures from the outside, but to stay true to their love of education and to their original mission: Making a difference in the lives of young people.