WASHINGTON – October 28, 2009 – Debra Sanchez, Vice President of Government Relations for the Association of Public Television Stations, will join the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as the Senior Vice President for Education Services.

Ms. Sanchez joined the government relations staff at APTS in July of 2001. Early in her tenure she served dual roles as a grassroots organizer focused on station advocacy and as a part-time Hill lobbyist. She assumed the role of Vice President in 2005.

Sanchez said: “Education is my passion, and has always been a core part of public broadcasting’s mission. I have deeply enjoyed the collaborative relationships I have built over the years with local stations, PBS and producers of educational children’s programming, like Sesame Workshop. CPB is charged with facilitating the development of and ensuring access to non-commercial, educational programming and services. I feel honored to have been given the opportunity and responsibility of joining CPB in this new role.”

Under Sanchez’s leadership, APTS worked to introduce the Ready To Compete Act in the 110th Congress. This legislation would leverage public television’s enormous educational resources to raise student achievement and prepare the 21st Century student to compete in the global economy. Ms. Sanchez also served as the chief lobbyist for the Ready To Learn and Ready To Teach programs, as well as appropriations issues. Prior to joining APTS, Ms. Sanchez spent several years as a special education teacher in Arlington, Virginia and Highland, Indiana.

Larry Sidman, President and CEO of APTS, said: “Throughout her eight years with APTS, Deb has been an extraordinary champion for public broadcasting. She combined her professionalism and hard work with her passion for education to achieve tremendous results in furthering the mission of local stations.”

Sidman continued: “Deb has been a true leader and an invaluable member of the APTS team, leading successful legislative campaigns to preserve and grow critical federal funding for local stations for the better part of the past decade.”

Sidman concluded: “We are grateful for Deb’s steadfast commitment and leadership in the public broadcasting arena. She will surely be missed, and we look forward to working with her in her new role, continuing to strengthen the great partnership between APTS and CPB.”