Congratulations to Craig Burford, Recipient of the Exemplary Service Award
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Craig Burford (middle) pictured with former AESA CEO Brian Talbott (left) and former AESA CFO Peter C. Young (right).
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At last week’s Summer Leadership Conference, the 2024 Exemplary Service Award was proudly presented to Craig Burford, executive director of the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA). The awardee is chosen by the AESA Executive Council to honor individuals who have provided outstanding service and volunteerism to AESA and its programs. The award is named in honor of Peter C. Young, a charter member of AESA, a founding member of the AESA Foundation, and AESA's Chief Financial Officer for 14 years.
Craig Burford has served as the OESCA Executive Director since August 2000, managing association operations and directing policy development and lobbying efforts through its grassroots network. He is always on hand to support the work of AESA.
In 2018, Craig was elected by his peers to serve as the first state association executive director to represent them on the executive council for AESA. His leadership extended beyond this role as he has been an active member of the AESA Perspectives Editorial Board since 2008, contributing both as a board member and a prolific writer. Craig has also led the network of state association executive directors, a virtual network that meets monthly.
In 2023-24, Craig partnered with AESA to develop state advocacy support for our members. He continues to author the State Examiner, a monthly online publication that provides a national look at state-by-state legislative issues, trends, and offers tips to empower AESA members to be education advocates. He has also developed a series of virtual and in-person workshops to help ESAs become better advocates in their own states.
Craig exemplifies putting people first and is a skilled communicator, as evidenced by his extraordinary writing and research skills. He is a compassionate collaborator, uses foresight in all his work, is a systems thinker, and possesses very high moral authority.
Congratulations, Craig, on this well-deserved recognition!
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Celebrating the 2023-24 Executives in Residence Cohort
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Also at last week's Summer Leadership Conference, we recognized the 2023-24 Executives in Residence (EIR) participants for successfully completing their program. EIR is a yearlong, performance-based opportunity designed to equip future CEOs with the expertise, inspiration, and mentorship they need to thrive.
A key feature of the program is the involvement of influential CEOs from the AESA Executive Council and other ESAs, who serve as mentors to the aspiring executives. These visionary leaders have generously shared their extensive knowledge and insights, guiding participants throughout their journey. Their invaluable contributions have profoundly shaped the leadership capabilities of this year’s cohort.
Congratulations to all the 2023-24 EIR participants, and a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated leaders and mentors!
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Leadership Academy Off to a Great Start
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Last week was quite busy! It was a great time to meet face-to-face when our members were in New Haven for the Summer Leadership Conference. One of the teams making good use of this proximity was the new ESA Leadership Academy.
Sponsored by the AESA Foundation and the Universal Benefits Consortium (UBC), the Leadership Academy is a yearlong professional learning experience designed for executive leaders in educational service agencies. At the first meeting, Bryan Goodwin, President and CEO of McREL International, led the learning and discussion on entrepreneurialism—a highly-requested topic as the evolving educational landscape drives many ESAs to embrace entrepreneurship. The first meeting also included a Yale tour organized by ACES International.
Throughout the year, participants will explore a diverse set of leadership issues, including international travel to Singapore and South Korea in March 2025, also organized by ACES International.
We are excited about the impactful learning and growth this academy will bring to our leaders and look forward to the innovative advancements it will inspire in our educational service agencies.
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A Closer Look at AESA’s Networks
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Up next in our three-week series focusing on each network individually is the NEW Technology Leaders Network!
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Technology is integral to modern education, shaping how students learn and educators teach. ESAs play a crucial role in leveraging technology to enhance learning outcomes and operational efficiencies across member districts. The ESA Technology Leaders Network is your gateway to becoming a transformative technology leader within your educational community.
The network will be facilitated by Tim McIlvain, executive director of the Learning Technology Center of Illinois, an education service agency specializing in technology. Tim had this to say about the new network:
"This year-long networking opportunity is specifically tailored for ESAs aiming to enhance their understanding of crucial technology topics or provide technology-rich services such as PD, consulting, SaaS, and IaaS to member districts. Join us to elevate your position as a technology leader within your ESA and beyond."
Who Should Join
We welcome ESA staff who are passionate about harnessing technology to drive positive change. Whether you're a technology director, instructional technology specialist, or an ESA tech team member with a keen interest in technology's role in education, this network is designed to empower you.
All sessions will be held virtually approximately every 4 weeks for 60 minutes each session. All sessions will be scheduled from 2:00-3:00 pm (EST).
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August 29
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October 3
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November 7
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December 19
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February 6
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March 20
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May 1
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June 5
Join a community dedicated to exploring, innovating, and leading with technology in education. Together, we can create meaningful impact and empower our member districts through effective technology leadership.
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Advocacy in Action Conference
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Join us September 25-27, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Network with ESA leaders, learn from expert speakers, and elevate your advocacy efforts. Your participation is crucial for driving the change needed to support ESAs and the school districts they serve.
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As AESA’s premier annual event, we bring you thought leaders from around the country and ESA professionals who are experts in their educational field. We focus on how ESAs are tackling today’s tough issues and what you can expect to come next.
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CISA Releases K-12 School Security Guide
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Yesterday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the K-12 School Security Guide. This new product was developed as a companion to the broader K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite, which provides K-12 districts and campuses with resources, tools and strategies to improve school physical security.
The release is the first in a series of school safety companion products that will be developed by CISA over the coming year. These products serve as streamlined and tailored guides for specific stakeholders within the K-12 and school safety communities to help them better understand and act upon key principles and guidance available through CISA’s school safety resources.
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