Ellen Hume-Howard

Ellen Hume-Howard brings over three decades of public education leadership to her role as Executive Director of the New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI), a position she has held since 2017. A former middle school educator and district curriculum director, Ellen bridges education policy, research, and classroom practice across New Hampshire and nationally.

Key Leadership & Statewide Impact

• NHLI Leadership: Positions NHLI as a statewide intermediary connecting policy, research, and professional learning across competency-based systems, STEM improvement, and emerging tools like AI in education.

• National Advisory: Serves on national committees for assessment and accountability, contributing practitioner- and system-level perspectives to modern learning frameworks.

• Instructional Advancement: Spearheads statewide initiatives to strengthen mathematical reasoning, discourse, and evidence-based instruction across New Hampshire school districts.

Core Expertise & Specializations

• Competency-Based Education (CBE): System design, flexible learning pathways, and Portrait of a Graduate implementation.

• Assessment & Accountability: Performance assessment tasks, balanced assessment design, rubrics, and evidence-of-learning frameworks.

• Student-Centered Practice: Student agency, career-connected learning, and personalized instruction.

• Capacity Building: Educator and leadership development, curriculum design, and grading/reporting reform.