The ESOP Association Announces Leading Education Innovator Erica Beck Spencer Will Spearhead New ESOP Education and Certification Initiatives

The ESOP Association today announced the hiring of Erica Beck Spencer to lead the Association’s efforts to transform ESOP education and adult learning. In addition, The ESOP Association is announcing the development of new certification programs across several core ESOP disciplines that will become integrated into future National and Chapter events beginning in January 2026.

Erica Beck Spencer is a nationally recognized expert in adult education with more than two decades of experience in curriculum development. Before joining The ESOP Association, she spent 17 years at the University of California, Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science developing programming and training for the Full Option Science System (FOSS), a research-based science curriculum. FOSS has been used internationally for more than 30 years, by millions of students and hundreds of thousands of educators.

In this capacity, Beck Spencer worked to train thousands of educators on implementing the FOSS program. She has also built customized learning solutions for diverse clients like the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Department of Defense Education Activity, and developed a wide range of resources and content showcasing expert instructional best practices. 

“Erica has a deep understanding of adult education, and her ability to translate complex topics into impactful and lasting learning experiences will be invaluable in her new role,” said James Bonham, President and CEO of The ESOP Association. “We have been working toward this type of integrated, modern approach to adult learning for several years, and it is a core item in our long-term strategic plan. As always, our goal is to provide best-in-class services and education to our member companies and to help our professionals provide the most impactful presentations and educational content possible. Erica will be spectacular at helping us achieve these goals.”

“As The ESOP Association continues to evolve our best-in-class education across national events, our 19 chapters, and online platforms, we are excited for the launch of even more year-round learning opportunities for our member companies and ESOP professionals,” Bonham continued. “We welcome Erica to The ESOP Association’s dynamic team, and we look forward to leveraging her expertise to develop transformational ESOP learning experiences.”