Ken Kay retires as CEO of Edleader 21, connected education
innovators across the nation 1980s to 2019
October 4, 2019 -- This page honors my longtime friend and colleague Ken Kay, who is retiring today as CEO of EdLeader21 (or as Ken might say, "re-tiring" towards future endeavors). For the past 30 some years Ken has done more than anyone else to connect the nation's Education Innovators. Most people know Ken as the Co-Founder (with Valerie Greenhill and Alyson Nielson) of EdLeader21, the Professional Learning Community dedicated to helping district and school leaders scale and sustain 21st century education practices system-wide. But Ken for the past 30 years has played a singular role in American education, founding and leading unique coalition organizations that brought together leading educators with national businesses and national education associations.
Starting in the 1980s, he led the Council on Research and Technology (CORETECH) and the Computer Systems Policy Project (CSPP). In 1996, Ken founded and led the CEO Forum on Education and Technology "to help ensure that America's schools effectively prepare all students to be contributing citizens and productive workers in the 21st Century". The work of the CEO Forum inspired the birth in 2001 of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), which Ken led and involved most of the lead businesses and associations of the CEO Forum.
And in 2010, Ken, Valerie, and Alyson launched EdLeader21, with 22 school districts. Today, now a network of Battelle for Kids, EdLeader21 comprises 230-plus school districts throughout the United States. Nobody has done a better service in bringing together the "Good Guys" of education reform and innovation than Ken Kay! See Ken's good works, and his bio, below. -- Bob Pearlman
2010-present
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EdLeader21 is the Professional Learning Community dedicated to helping district and school leaders scale and sustain 21st century education practices system-wide. Launched in 2010, with 22 school districts. Today, as a network of Battelle for Kids, EdLeader21 comprises 230-plus school districts throughout the United States. |
2001-present
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Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) p21.org Founded in 2001, P21's mission is to realize the power and promise of 21st century learning for every student—in early learning, in school, and beyond school—across the country and around the globe. As the pioneers in this movement, champions of the 4Cs (Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity), and creators of the Framework for 21st Century Learning, P21 is the premier organization ensuring every child—without exception—experiences 21st century learning. Ken Kay led P21 from 2001 to 2009. P21 has focused on developing State Partners in addition to its Member organizations -- businesses and national associations. See P21.org on the Internet Archive in 2011; 2015; and 2018. |
1996-2001
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CEO Forum on Education and Technology (ceoforum.org) The CEO Forum on Education and Technology was founded in the fall of 1996 to help ensure that America's schools effectively prepare all students to be contributing citizens and productive workers in the 21st Century. To meet this objective, the Forum issued an annual assessment of the nation's progress toward integrating technology into American classrooms through the year 2000. In its Year 4 Report, June 2001, the CEO Forum published |
1989-2003
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Computer Systems Policy Project 1989-2003 The Computer Systems Policy Project (CSPP) is an affiliation of chief executive officers of American computer companies which develop, build, market, service, and support information processing systems, software, and solutions. CSPP's members include the chief executives of Apple, AT&T, Compaq, Control Data Systems, Cray Research, Data General, Digital Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Silicon Graphics, Sun Micro systems, Tandem, and Unisys. Upon forming CSPP in 1989, the CEOs made a commitment to develop and advocate public policy positions on trade and technology issues affecting their industry and ultimately the United States. See cssp.org on the Internet Archive: 1996; 1999 See CSPP Memoranda; Correspondence; Presentation Material; Article at the Computer History Museum. |
1987-1993
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CORETECH (Council on Research and Technology) |
CORETECH (Council on Research and Technology), made up of companies, colleges, and trade associations, promoted policies that would support and advance research and development and U.S. technological innovation. 1987-1993. |
Ken's Bio from Batelle for Kids:
Ken Kay is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of EdLeader21, the Professional Learning Community dedicated to helping district and school leaders scale and sustain 21st century education practices system-wide.
Ken collaborates with education leaders across the country around the importance of developing and implementing a Portrait of a Graduate-a collective vision articulating the community's aspirations for its students.
A national keynote presenter and writer, he is the co-author with Valerie Greenhill of The Leader's Guide to 21st Century Education: 7 Steps for Schools and Districts (Pearson Education, 2012).
In 2002, Ken co-founded the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and served
as its President for eight years. Prior to his work on 21st century education,
he served as executive director of the CEO Forum on Education and Technology.