C. Ed Massey, J.D.

Managing Partner

Ed Massey is a native of Northern Kentucky. He lives in Boone County with his wife of 32 years, and his youngest daughter Breanna. Ed is a graduate of Lloyd High School, Eastern Kentucky University and Chase College of Law.

Ed is a practicing partner in the law firm of Blankenship Massey and Associates. The firm has two offices, one in Grant County, Kentucky and the other in Kenton County, Kentucky. He is member of the Kentucky Bar Association, Ohio Bar Association, and Indiana Bar Association.

Ed is graduate of the 2004 Class of Leadership Kentucky which is a unique program designed to “advance Kentucky by bringing people with leadership abilities together and providing them with insight into the complex issues facing the state."

Ed served as a member of the Boone County Board of Education for over 22 years. Additionally, he served as President of the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). Currently, Ed represents the 66th District in the Kentucky House of Representatives where he sits on the Education Committee, Judiciary Committee (Chair), Veterans Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee and Licensing and Occupations Committee.

Education has been a passion of Ed for more than 30 years. His goal is to provide opportunities for every child to be college, career and life ready.

Randy Poe, Ed.D.

Founding Partner

Randy Poe, Ed.D. serves as a Founding Partner of NCTLS and serves as an Executive Director of the Northern Kentucky Education Council and is the former superintendent of Boone County Schools in Kentucky. As part of NCTLS, Dr. Poe serves in a capacity as an Executive Consultant of Innovation for the National Center of Education Research and Technology (NCERT) and a Senior Fellow of the Schlechty Center. He is deeply committed to supporting the mission and enhancing advocacy efforts for Public Education. As superintendent, his focus revolved around academic rigor, real world relevance and focused partnerships with students, parents and the community. Dr. Poe has been recognized at both the state and national levels for his accomplishments. He was honored to be named as the 2015 F.L. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent Award, 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award by Northern Kentucky Education Council, the 2013 Kentucky Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators and AASA, the 2012 Outstanding NKU Alumnus of the College of Education and Human Services. He was selected for the Northern Kentucky Education Council – One-to-One Literacy Award in 2011 and recently, Dr. Poe was recognized as the 2017 Kentucky Parent –Teacher Association Honorary Life Recognition and the 2016 Celebrate Advocacy for Public Education Award by the Kentucky School Boards Association. Dr. Poe serves on the Northern Kentucky University Alumni Board of Directors, the ITLN Education Advisory Council, and is Past-President for the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents. Dr. Poe is married to Melinda and has four children.

Rich Fry, Ed.D

Associate Partner / President

Richard (Rich) W. Fry, Ed.D became superintendent of the Big Spring School District in April of 2004. Before coming to Big Spring, Rich served as the assistant superintendent in the East Pennsboro Area School District. Prior to the assistant superintendent position, he fulfilled numerous building administrator roles in south central Pennsylvania as well as nine years in Prince William County, Virginia.

Dr. Fry obtained his undergraduate degree from Lock Haven University, his Master’s Degree from the University of Richmond and his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Penn State University. His focus as superintendent of Big Spring revolved around a student centered approach to learning that enabled all students to become life ready throughout their educational journey at Big Spring. This student centered approach allowed Big Spring to focus on relevant learning opportunities that challenge each of the 2600 students in the Big Spring School District. The school district’s commitment to personalized relevant learning drove the Big Spring community to develop a Profile of a Graduate and a local accountability system that focuses on the six components within the Profile of a Graduate. Dr. Fry’s transformational leadership helped build a learning organization that collaborates at all levels with like school systems nationally. This framework has also produced consistency and desire for growth at the Board, Administrative and Teacher level of the organization.

As a result of his dedicated service to students and his learning organization, Dr. Fry has been recognized at both the state and national level for his accomplishments. Dr. Fry was named the 2021 Leadership in Public Education award winner for the state of Pennsylvania. Dr. Fry served two terms on the American Association of School Administrators National Governing Board and most recently served as President of the Pennsylvania School Administrators Association in 2018-2019. He is also on several national boards within the education sector and has served and chaired numerous boards statewide throughout his career. Dr. Fry is married to Kelly and has four children.