Michigan Virtual hired two experienced educators to lead its educational programs and outreach efforts. Tamara Bashore-Berg is the new Executive Director of Educational Programs and Michael Nauss is the Executive Director of Outreach.
“Tamara and Michael bring a wealth of professional experience and expertise to Michigan Virtual as positive change agents in public education,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, Michigan Virtual President & CEO. “They will play a critical role as part of Michigan Virtual’s executive leadership team in guiding program developments and strengthening our partnerships with Michigan school districts.”
Bashore-Berg comes to Michigan Virtual after 27 years at Ingham Intermediate School District where she was involved in staff development alignment of curriculum, instruction and assessment, and instructional design. She will lead the development, evaluation and revision of curriculum and instruction, and assumes responsibility for the implementation of education programs.
"Online and blended learning has such potential to transform teaching and learning," said Bashore-Berg. "I am excited to bring my experiences to the Michigan Virtual team as we continue to grow and lead the way in these areas."
Bashore-Berg has served in multiple roles in education, from teacher, administrator and consultant. She has a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a Master in the Art of Teaching/Master in Education degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. She has served actively on the MDE Office of Educational Improvement and Innovation Advisory Committee, the Michigan ASCD Board, the Michigan Educational Research Associate Board, and served on the national ASCD Legislative committee, among other outreach activities.
As Executive Director of Outreach, Nauss manages institutional relationships with school clients and serves as key liaison to Michigan’s K-12 community, including statewide professional associations.
"Serving as a K-12 educational leader, at local, state and national levels, has provided me with the opportunity to learn from our nation’s most skilled practitioners and innovative thinkers," Nauss said. "I look forward to bringing those experiences and networks of support to Michigan Virtual and their role as Michigan’s digital learning leader."
Before joining Michigan Virtual, Nauss served as the Director of Administration and Operations in the College of Education at Michigan State University, as a senior education consultant with the Michigan Department of Education, as Assistant Superintendent at Harper Creek Community Schools, and in many other educational positions, including classroom teaching. Nauss has a bachelor’s degree (Elementary Education) and a master’s degree (Educational Leadership) from Western Michigan University.
About Michigan Virtual
Michigan Virtual is a private, nonprofit Michigan corporation established by the State of Michigan in 1998 to serve as a champion for online learning. It is the parent organization of the Michigan Virtual, Michigan LearnPort, and Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute. Visit michiganvirtual.org for more information.
Michigan Virtual
For more than 27 years, Michigan Virtual has partnered with K–12 school districts across Michigan to expand learning opportunities for students and educators alike. Through our high-quality online courses, taught by Michigan-certified, highly qualified teachers, we empower students to learn anytime, anywhere. We also provide affordable, impactful professional development to help educators grow in their craft. Most recently, Michigan Virtual has been at the forefront of innovation and artificial intelligence in education, offering consultation services and professional learning to guide schools in thoughtfully integrating new technologies and learning pathways.