Partnering for Student Success: A Warm Welcome From Your New Executive Director

I hope the school year is off to a great start for each of you! Like many of you, fall is my favorite time of the year in Iowa. The air begins to crisp, football is upon us, and school is back in session. Most of you started last week, and I am sure you got to experience the smiling faces, fresh haircuts, and renewed energy of students and staff members alike.

Thank you to everyone who has offered such a warm welcome as I step into this role. Our SAI Executive Committee members have been very supportive, as have our amazing staff members. Having worked closely with several team members over the years, I am continually reminded of how focused they are on keeping members at the center of our work to support student success. I am also enjoying getting to know our newer team members and appreciating the distinct skills and experience they bring to our organization.

Thank you for your support of our annual conference. We had nearly 1,500 attendees participate in sessions focused on career-connected learning, teacher coaching, and artificial intelligence applications for school leaders. We also hosted a robust preconference centered on strengthening executive functioning skills in students. I hope our theme, “Leading for Tomorrow,” resonates with you in both the near and long term.

Experience Serving Iowa Schools

While I gave a brief introduction at the annual conference, I want to share a quick overview of the background I bring to this role, including serving as:

• Superintendent in Waukee, Cedar Rapids, and Saydel

• Director of the Iowa Department of Education

• Associate Superintendent in Waukee

• Principal in North Mahaska, Hudson, and Waukee

I hope this range of experience across diverse district sizes, locations, and student demographics allows me to better understand and serve your specific needs.

How SAI Supports You

As executive director, I am constantly reminded of the exceptional resources and support available to you as SAI members. From our high-quality mentoring program and targeted professional learning experiences to legal labs and practical guidance on implementing legislation and managing declining budgets, our offerings are designed to provide both immediate help and long-term support.

At SAI, we wake up every day with one core question: What can we do today to better support school leaders as they serve and lead the staff and students of our state?

To that end, we are always available and open to your ideas. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at 515-802-1165 or bbuck@sai-iowa.org.