Leisa Morton–Standish

Dr. Leisa Morton-Standish is the Director of Elementary Education at the North American Division. She brings broad teaching experience to the position, that includes teaching in small rural schools as well as in large urban schools. She has taught on the east and west coasts of the U.S, both in and out of the Adventist education system, and in Australia and New Zealand. She has also spent a considerable part of her career teaching at universities, including lecturing in the education departments at the University of Maryland, Washington Adventist University and Macquarie University, a large state university in Sydney, Australia, with over 40,000 students.

Leisa holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland,an MA in Education from California State University and a Diploma in Education from Avondale College. Her research focuses on persuasive writing, classroom collaborative strategies, experiential learning and problem-based education. She has been published in major peer reviewed journals and has presented at major academic conferences. She has also actively participated in a number church and secular education committees, including sitting on the District of Columbia's early childhood task-force.

Leisa is married to James Standish, JD (Georgetown University), MBA (The University of Virginia), a consultant in public advocacy, law and media. She has three children, Shea (10th grade), Skye (7th grade) and Boyi (Kindergarten). Leisa is committed to Christ and the ideals of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her first love is the classroom where she can share her passion for learning and her love for Jesus.