Becky Cooke
What Is Your Vision for ASCD? The global news has been spellbinding this past year. Young people strove for freedoms that many take for granted, coordinated their efforts through social media, and overthrew governments in search of democracy. Can we remain meaningful in a world that changes based on a tweet? ASCD has been the premier international education association, influencing the way we learn, teach, and lead, for nearly 70 years. But what will the future hold for our association?
This question dominates as we embark on a new three-year strategic plan. I have been so honored to be a part of our association and am looking forward to creating our future together. As president-elect, I would embrace the challenge of engaging our worldwide, diverse membership in the reinvention process while capitalizing on our strength of valuing the whole child. We must communicate in new ways, influence while respecting context, listen deeply to our members, and examine our practices to ensure that we are nimble enough to quickly adapt. Our programs, products, and services are second to none, and we must ensure they are relevant in this ever-changing environment. I look forward to continuing this work together. Our children deserve nothing less than our best.
Current Position: Superintendent, Deer Park School District, Deer Park, Wash.
Education: BA, Eastern Washington University; MEd, Western Washington University; EdD, Teachers College Columbia University
Career History and Highlights: More than 25 years in public education: teacher (5 years), building administrator at middle and elementary school levels (19 years), and superintendent (1 year). Adjunct faculty at local universities. Presenter at numerous conferences and workshops. Member, Washington Association of School Administrators; mentor principal, Association of Washington School Principals (2 years), Washington State Learning First Alliance Executive Committee and founding member (3 years). Recipient, Excellence in Leadership Award from Washington State University and Educational Service District #101, 2005. Author and coauthor of numerous journal articles; contributor to numerous publications.
ASCD and Affiliate Participation: ASCD and Washington State ASCD (WASCD) member (20 years). Member, ASCD Board of Directors (2007–2010); Board audit and assessment committees (2008–2010); Legislative Committee (2010–present), Worldwide Influence Study Group (2007); at-large member of Leadership Council (2003–2005). Member, Leadership Council Transition Team (2008); Leadership Council Position Action Team cochair (2005); Constituent Relations Committee (2002). WASCD board of directors (2009–present) and president (2001–2002); coeditor, WASCD journal (2009–present); presenter and attendee at Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy, Leader to Leader Conference, Leadership for Effective Advocacy and Practice Institute, Northwest/Southwest regional conferences, and Affiliate Leadership Conference. Annual and state conference attendee (1998–present).
Mark Sutter
What Is Your Vision for ASCD? There is an ancient Chinese curse that says, "May you live in interesting times." We are indeed living in interesting times. Educators are struggling to adapt to the new realities of our changing global economy. I envision ASCD taking bold actions to address the complex challenges that we all now face. As ASCD develops and implements its new strategic plan, I would lead the association to be bold in its actions and deeds to truly revolutionize the way we learn. No membership organization is better positioned than ASCD to shape and tell the story of how learning should take place at all levels in our new global environment. Our association needs to be the voice for the students that are at the center of our work. We need to develop a knowledge ecology that fosters the free exchange of ideas at a grassroots level using social networking, smart phone applications, Facebook, Twitter, and other 21st century technology tools. The need is great for ASCD to accept the challenge to revolutionize the way we learn, and the time is now for us to begin this important work.
Current Position: Director of Academic Services, Elyria City Schools, Elyria, Ohio. My position is responsible for the teaching, learning, and leadership in the district's 13 school buildings.
Education: BS, MEd, and PhD, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Career History and Highlights: High school mathematics and social studies teacher (6 years), junior high/middle school administrator (8 years), central office administrator (13 years). Member of the Elyria City Schools Endowment Board and the United Way of Greater Lorain County Board. Kent State University Honors College and Educational Administration Alumnus of the Year. Kappa Delta Pi nominations committee chair. Member of Phi Delta Kappa. Participated in the Harvard Institute for School Leadership and the Leadership Development Program at the Yale Child Study Center. Helped direct the Legal Update for School Heads Program at Kent State University for 13 years. Adjunct professor at Ashland University. Reviewer for numerous Department of Education grants. Scorer for Educational Testing Service administrative exams.
ASCD and Affiliate Participation: Ohio ASCD and ASCD member (21 years). Ohio ASCD board member since 1998; served as diversity chair, guaranteed representative to ASCD Leadership Council, and affiliate president. Served on ASCD Board of Directors (2008–2011); member, Nominations Committee, Legislative Committee, Constitutional Review Committee, and Finance Committee. Participated in and presented at ASCD annual conferences.