Fred Bramante

The founder and president of the National Center for Competency-Based Learning (NCCBL), Fred Bramante began his journey as an educator in 1970, teaching middle school science in Stamford, Connecticut. From this initiative, the 10,000 Mentors was born, which is a New Hampshire based project of the NCCBL. The project aims to assist school districts in New Hampshire with identifying, recruiting and training community partners (i.e. businesses, nonprofits, talented individuals) for the purpose of matching students’ interest to the skills of specific mentors and, through the process, receive credit toward graduation for mastering specific competencies. New Hampshire will serve as the incubator to take this concept to the entire country with NCCBL's goal of 1 Million Mentors for America's Schools.

He left teaching in 1976 to dedicate his full-time effort to the fledgling music business he started with his life savings of $600 in order to supplement his teaching salary. At its peak, Daddy’s Junky Music was among the top 20 music retailers in America. But he never stopped being a teacher. Education was in his blood.

In 1992, Bramante was appointed to the New Hampshire State Board of Education. After unsuccessful runs for governor on education platforms, he was appointed Chairman of the New Hampshire State Board and was charged by the Governor with the responsibility to lead New Hampshire’s first full-scale education reform effort since 1919.

The results of Bramante’s efforts led to landmark changes in New Hampshire’s education regulations including the move from credit for seat time (the number of hours a student spends in class, known as the Carnegie Unit), to credit for demonstrated learning (anytime, anyplace, anyhow, any pace). Following New Hampshire’s lead, the concept of a competency-based model is now being considered by virtually every state department of education and is high on the agenda of the Council of Chief State School Officers. In 2012, New Hampshire won the Frank Newman State Innovation Award from the Education Commission of the States.

Bramante’s efforts have received national attention. He speaks around the country and serves as a consultant for numerous national, state, and regional education groups and policymakers, including the National Governors’ Association, the Ohio High School Redesign Team, the Iowa Department of Education, the Association of Education Service Agencies, CESA #1 in Wisconsin, Cabell County Schools of West Virginia, and more. Bramante’s new book, Off the Clock: Moving Education from Time to Competency, will hit bookshelves in March 2012.

In 1995, Bramante received the Keene State College Alumni Achievement Award. In 2006, he received his master’s degree in educational leadership from Plymouth State University. In 2009, Plymouth State honored Bramante with their Alumni Achievement Award.