As I assume my role as president of KSDC, I am honored to work with some very talented and skilled educators who know and understand the value of professional learning as the sustenance of our ever-changing and evolving educational systems. If we expect to offer viable services as educators, it is important that we continue to build our knowledge and skills as our learning organizations prepare students for their place in a global society. As president, I have a goal to continue to guide the organization to address the 21st Century learning needs of educators, equipping them to meet student-learning needs for the 21st Century and beyond. In that endeavor, I challenge each KSDC member to lead through dialogue, practice, and reflection all in the spirit of community learning. As we share practices and build capacity across the state, I would also challenge each of us to collect and analyze the data/evidence so that we contribute to a growing body of research that shows the value and positive impact that professional learning has on student learning/achievement.

Working within an educational organization for 26 years, I have on more than one occasion lamented the constant "change" of jumping from one initiative to the next when searching for the magic, silver bullet that will address the system's problem(s). Under the current economic situation and the current political and social conditions (accountability and equity concerns), challenges exist that warrant a close examination of effective, quality professional learning as a means to truly assist in a "shift" that can sustain student learning/achievement. The mission of the Kansas Staff Development Council (KSDC) is to promote high standards in student achievement by advocating, modeling, and providing resources for quality professional learning. As an affiliate of the National Staff Development Council, KSDC also has a responsibility to assist in the purpose ensuring that that every educator engages in effective professional learning every day so that every student achieves. It is these two purposes that have driven the members of KSDC to expand our thoughts in how to reach out to educators across the state.

Again this year, KSDC activities will include sponsoring high quality conferences and institutes to meet a range of needs to our members including:

Fall Institute: Making a Difference: Creating Difference Makers!
November 3 and 4 conversation will focus on the building of strong school cultures through expanded leadership. Addressing the change process, Karen Seashore Louis will share her work on examining school cultures while providing some tools and processes to assist in change through expanded leadership. Additionally, local practitioners will provide insight in several breakout sessions from the perspective of students, teachers, support staff, principals and district administrators.

Leadership Conference: Making and Impact…and Measuring It
April 13 and 14, Joellen Killion will provide a keynote on making an impact with professional learning and measuring it. Educators and support staff will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue, planning, and practice through breakout sessions that build upon the topic of what it means to positively impact students through professional learning and how they can measure it. Additionally two topics will provide a lead into the conference while continuing to build upon past practices:

• 21st Century Teaching and Learning—"Unconference"
• Kansas Coaching Academy

I look forward to the opportunity to serve the many talented and skilled educators as President of the Kansas Staff Development Council.

Best wishes for a positive and productive school year!