Our History
About Us
MSDC History
In 1987, professionals across Missouri began their collective efforts in staff development. Under the leadership of Georgia Archibald, a group in St.Louis began to form a regional vision for professional development. MSDC was organized in 1989, and in 1990 MSDC, with a membership of100, achieved affiliate status with the National Staff Development Council (NSDC). Cheri Shannon served as the affiliates’ first president and MSDC was listed along with twenty other state affiliates in the 1991 NSDC Conference program.
MSDC was the host affiliate for the 1991National Staff Development Conference in St. Louis. At the conference, Scotty Scott facilitated a “National Conversation” for principals. Following that first year, Sandy Stogsdill Shannon and later Tina Bamvakis led MSDC. Two “drive in” conferences were held in Columbia, Missouri. However, the momentum for MSDC waned.
In 1993, with the passage of the Outstanding Schools Act, professional development became a major focus in the school improvement process. SB380 mandated that 1% of the foundation formula be spent on professional development. Doug Miller became the first state professional development coordinator with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in 1994. DESE established nine Regional Professional Development Centers during the 1995-96 school year to provide regional professional development services to districts to ensure equity of opportunity. DESE and the RPDCs worked together to host the first annual Show-Me Professional Development Conference in 1997. Out of this collective effort, MSDC began to reorganize and officers were elected. Jim Botts, Chris Guinther, Sue Fluegel, Ruth Ann Humiston, Pat Dukewits, Doug Miller and Judy English served as the Executive Committee during the years of reorganization. This enabled Missouri again to have an active affiliate chapter of the National Staff Development Council. Darlene Castilli’s efforts produced the first MSDC newsletter in 1997.
In 1998, Missouri received a SDLC Grant from NSDC to build support for high quality professional development in the state. DESE and the RPDCs continued to organize the Show-Me Conference. Chris Guinther served as the MSDC President for three years, from 1998 through 2000. Gene Vinson and Paul Pitchford served as Conference Co-Chairs in 1999 and Chris Guinther served as Conference Chair in 2000.
MSDC was organizing itself into a viable statewide organization and became a planning partner in the state professional development conference. The Staff Development Vision Award was initiated to honor outstanding leadership in Missouri professional development efforts during the 1999 conference. The inaugural Vision Award was presented to Georgia Archibald at the 1999 conference and Doug Miller was the 2000 recipient. By2000, MSDC membership had grown to 900. Scotty Scott was also elected to a three year term to the NSDC Board of Trustees.
Beginning with 2001 conference, MSDC took over the planning and operation of the annual Show-Me Professional Development Conference. Jim Botts served as MSDC President and Deb Orr was Conference Chair. At its annual meeting at the conference, MSDC voted to expand its board to include representation from each of the nine geographic regions of the state as defined by the Regional Professional Development
Centers. conference topped 1,000 for the first time and Chris Guinther was recognized for her leadership with the Vision Award. MSDC adopted its first Strategic Plan and MSDC was on its way to becoming a major statewide organization when it gained separate 501(c)3 status. During this year, MSDC initiated several awards to honor outstanding professional development programs and professional development leaders in the state. In addition to the Staff Development VisionAward, awards were presented for Outstanding Staff Developer, Outstanding Professional Development Program in a District, and Outstanding Professional Development Program at the Building Level.
In 2003, MSDC worked with the SDLC to initiate a new award to take the place of the previously awarded district honor. With a Missouri professional development grant, MSDC launched the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence for Professional Development. This award was presented by the Missouri Commissioner of Education, Dr. Kent King, at the annual conference to six Missouri districts. Richard Rice was MSDC President and Julie Blaine served as Conference Chair. Senator Steve Stoll set the tone for the conference with his presentation on the importance and the power of high quality professional development. Judy English was presented the Vision Award. During the 2002-2003 school year, MSDC worked with the SDLC to ensure continued state- and district-level funding for professional development through the foundation formula. This effort resulted in the defeat of HB402 and HB745 in the Missouri Legislature and the continued funding of staff development in the state.
The 2003-2004 school year marked a major milestone for MSDC, as the organization named its first parttime Executive Director, Marcia Haskin. The Board of Directors was expanded to allow for a planned progression of leadership to the presidency. Under Richard Rice’s leadership as President, MSDC developed a more comprehensive strategic plan to guide the organization forward, increase its visibility, and to improve service and support to school districts and state organizations. An updated web site was created at http://www.msdc-mo.org. MSDC was selected to present at the Phi Delta Kappa National Conference in November 2003 in Saint Louis and at the National NSDC Conference in December 2003 in New Orleans. At the 2003 NSDC Conference, two of Missouri’s professional development leaders were honored: Julie Blaine as the New Staff Developer for outstanding success in her early years of service, and Sue McAdamis for her Distinguished Service in acknowledgement for her extraordinary and sustained service to NSDC. 2003 also ended Scotty Scott’s term on the NSDC Board of Trustees and marked the beginning of a three-year term on the NSDC Board for Sue McAdamis. The November 2003 NSDC Results publication highlighted the successful results at Ladd Elementary School with principal Gustava Cooper Baker.
In 2004-2005, Julie Blaine became president of MSDC. MSDC adopted the National Staff Development Council’s goal as its goal – All teachers in all Missouri schools will experience high quality professional learning as part of their daily work by 2007. Three objectives were developed to assist MSDC advance this goal:
- Communicate with all stakeholders about standards-based professional development.
- Build leadership capacity around PD standards
- Recognize high quality PD that reflects Missouri standards.
One strategy used to advance this goal was to begin extending its outreach to other organizations to ensure that district leaders increase their knowledge of the standards and their roles in advancing the standards. This included work with the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals, Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, Missouri Association of School Boards, and District Technology Leaders. MSDC participated in their annual conferences to accomplish this.
MSDC continued its work with the awards program and again recognized Missouri educators with its vision, staff developer, and building awards, along with The Commissioner’s Awards of Excellence for Professional Development. At the same time, MSDC members demonstrated their leadership. The Independence School District was recognized by NSDC for its professional development newsletter. Elizabeth Mayes, from the Parkway School District, was published in the Summer 2005 National Staff Development Councils’ journal – JSD. Her article on how the Parkway School District provides professional development for its support staff provided readers with specific strategies that can be adapted by other school districts. In addition, MSDC continued to be recognized as the largest NSDC Affiliate. At the March 2005 MSDC Show-Me Professional Development Conference, over 1000 school educators had the opportunity to attend many sessions to increase their understanding of the standards-based professional development. The conference also marked the election of the 2005-2006 new MSDC Board of Directors with Kathy Blackmore succeeding Julie Blaine as president o f MSDC.
Conference Themes, Chair, and Awards
Conference Theme Making Connections for Kids: Planting Seeds in Rich Soil
Conference Chair Ruth Ann Humiston
Conference Theme Charting our Course for Student Success
MSDC President Chris Guinther
Conference Co-Chairs Gene Vinson and Paul Pitchford
MSDC Board Members Chris Guinther – President
Jim Botts – President-elect
Pat Dukewits – Secretary
Ruth Ann Humiston – Treasurer
Sue Fluegel – Member at Large
Doug Miller – DESE Representative
Judy English – DESE Representative
Conference Theme Constructing Student Success
MSDC President Chris Guinther
Conference Co-Chairs Paul Pitchford and Gene Vinson
MSDC Board Members Chris Guinther – President
Jim Botts – President-elect
Pat Dukewits – Secretary
Ruthann Humiston – Treasurer
Sue Fluegel – Member at Large
Doug Miller – DESE Representative
Judy English – DESE Representative
Award Presented Vision Award: Georgia Archibald
Conference Theme Building Learning Communities
MSDC President Chris Guinther/Jim Botts
Conference Chair Chris Guinther
MSDC Board Members Chris Guinther – President
Jim Botts – President-elect
Pat Dukewits – Secretary
Ruthann Wood– Treasurer
Sue Fluegel – Member at Large
Doug Miller – DESE Representative
Judy English – DESE Representative
Award Presented Vision Award: Doug Miller
Conference Theme Time to Learn…Time to Grow
MSDC President Jim Botts
Conference Chair Deb Orr
Keynote Speakers Stephen Barkley and Joellen Killion
Membership 900
MSDC Board Members Jim Botts – President
Deb Orr – Vice President
Jody Wood – Secretary
Connie Burkhardt – Treasurer
Marcia Haskin – Member at Large
Richard Rice – Member at Large
Awards Presented Vision Award: Scotty Scott
Conference Theme Linking Staff Development to Student Achievement
MSDC President Deb Orr
Conference Chair Richard Rice
Keynote Speakers Jay McTighe, Dennis Sparks, Victoria Bernhardt and Tom Jackson
Membership 1,053
MSDC Board Members Deb Orr – President
Richard Rice – Vice President
Jody Wood – Secretary
Connie Burkhardt – Treasurer
Marcia Haskin – Member at Large
Jim Botts – Member at Large
Kathy Holmes – Region 1, Southeast RPDC Region
Mary Ann Graham – Region 2, Heart of Missouri RPDC Region
Nancy Clemens – Region 3, Kansas City RPDC Region
Kathy Cowell – Region 4, Northeast RPDC Region
Sally Minnick – Region 5, Northwest RPDC Region
Dale Ridder – Region 6, South Central RPDC Region
Marilyn Dishman-Horst – Region 7, Southwest RPDC Region
Chris Guinther – Region 8, St. Louis RPDC Region
Julie Blaine – Region 9, Central RPDC Region
DeeAnn Aull – SDLC Representative
Doug Miller – DESE Representative
Judy English – DESE Representative
Awards Presented
Vision Award: Chris Guinther
Outstanding District Staff Development Program: Warrensburg R-VI School District
Outstanding Building Staff Development Program: Odessa Upper Elementary School, Odessa School District
• Staff Developer of the Year: Richard Rice, North Kansas City School District
Conference Theme Bridging the Gaps through Professional Development
MSDC President Richard Rice
Conference Chair Julie Blaine
Keynote Speakers Bob Eaker, Jim Kern, and Mike Murphy
Membership 1,053
MSDC Board Members Richard Rice – President
Julie Blaine – Vice President
Jody Wood – Secretary
Connie Burkhardt – Treasurer
Deb Orr – Immediate Past President
Marcia Haskin – Member at Large
Joan Beard – Member at Large
Kathy Holmes – Region 1, Southeast RPDC Region
Mary Ann Graham – Region 2, Heart of Missouri RPDC Region
Nancy Clemens – Region 3, Kansas City RPDC Region
Kathy Cowell – Region 4, Northeast RPDC Region
Sally Minnick – Region 5, Northwest RPDC Region
Dale Ridder – Region 6, South Central RPDC Region
Suzy Cutbirth – Region 7, Southwest RPDC Region
Kathy Diehl – Region 8, St. Louis RPDC Region
Linda Shippy – Region 9, Central RPDC Region
DeeAnn Aull – SDLC Representative
Doug Miller – DESE Representative
Judy English – DESE Representative
Awards Presented
Vision Award: Judy English
Commissioner’s Award of Excellence for Professional Development: Blue Springs School District
Cabool School District
Fulton School District
Lee’s Summit School District
Lindbergh School District
Mound City School District
Outstanding Building Staff Development Program: Wild Horse Elementary, Rockwood School District
Staff Developer of the Year: Nancy Clemens, North Kansas City School District
Conference Theme Keeping the Vision Alive
Conference Chair Kathy Blackmore
Keynote Speakers Ruby Payne and Hayes Mizell
Membership 1,053
MSDC Board Members Richard Rice – President
Julie Blaine – 1st Vice President
Kathy Blackmore – 2nd Vice President
Jody Wood – Secretary
Connie Burkhardt – Treasurer
Deb Orr – Immediate Past President
Cynthia Johnson – Member at Large
Joan Beard – Member at Large
Connie Toney – Region 1, Southeast RPDC Region
Susan Krumm – Region 2, Heart of Missouri RPDC Region
Nancy Clemens – Region 3, Kansas City RPDC Region
Kathy Cowell – Region 4, Northeast RPDC Region
Valerie Pierce – Region 5, Northwest RPDC Region
Terry Hopgood – Region 6, South Central RPDC Region
Suzy Cutbirth – Region 7, Southwest RPDC Region
Kathy Diehl – Region 8, St. Louis RPDC Region
Linda Shippy – Region 9, Central RPDC Region
Dee Ann Aull, SDLC Representative
Doug Miller, DESE and Leadership Academy Representative
Marcia Haskin, Executive Director, MSDC
Carrie Scales, Administrative Assistant, MSDC
Awards PresentedVision Award Co-Winners: Vicki Baker, Assistant Superintendent, North Kansas City School District
Gene Vinson, Central Missouri RPDC Director
Commissioner’s Award of Excellence for Professional Development:
Brentwood School District
Francis Howell School District
Lebanon School District
Liberty School District
North Kansas City School District
Pattonville School District
Outstanding Building Staff Development Program: Bush Elementary School, Fulton School District
Staff Developer of the Year: Suzanne Love, Independence School District
Conference Theme You’ve Got The Power: Plug In To High Quality Professional Development
Conference Chair Linda Shippy
Keynote Speaker Larry Bell
Membership 1,100
MSDC Board Members Julie Blaine – President
Kathy Blackmore – 1st Vice President
Linda Shippy – 2nd Vice President
Jody Wood – Secretary
Connie Burkhardt – Treasurer
Richard Rice – Immediate Past President
Joan Beard – Member at Large
Cynthia Johnson – Member at Large
Connie Toney – Region 1, Southeast RPDC Region
Leslie Trogdon – Region 2, Heart of Missouri RPDC Region
Gloria Henry – Region 3, Kansas City RPDC Region
Kathy Cowell – Region 4, Northeast RPDC Region
Valerie Pierce – Region 5, Northwest RPDC Region
Terry Hopgood – Region 6, South Central RPDC Region
Suzy Cutbirth – Region 7, Southwest RPDC Region
Kathy Diehl – Region 8, St. Louis RPDC Region
Sherri Carter – Region 9, Central RPDC Region
Dee Ann Aull, SDLC Representative
Doug Miller, DESE and Leadership Academy Representative
Marcia Haskin, Executive Director, MSDC
Carrie Scales, Administrative Assistant, MSDC
Awards Presented
Vision Award: Wayne Walker, Associate Director, St. Louis RPDC
Commissioner’s Award of Excellence for Professional Development: Junction Hill School District
Warrensburg School District
Outstanding Building Staff Development Program: Mill Creek Elementary School, Independence School District
• Staff Developer of the Year: Connie Hebert, Special Education Consultant, Southeast RPDC
Conference Theme Celebrating a Decade of High Quality Professional Development
Conference Chair Kathy Diehl
Keynote Speakers Janet Allen
Dennis Sparks
Membership 1,100
MSDC Board Members Kathy Blackmore – President
Linda Shippy – 1st Vice President
Kathy Diehl – 2nd Vice President
Jody Wood – Secretary
Connie Burkhardt – Treasurer
Julie Blaine – Immediate Past President
Joan Beard – Member at Large
Cynthia Johnson – Member at Large
Connie Toney – Region 1, Southeast RPDC Region
Mary Anne Graham – Region 2, Heart of Missouri RPDC Region
Gloria Henry – Region 3, Kansas City RPDC Region
Kathy Cowell – Region 4, Northeast RPDC Region
Valerie Pierce – Region 5, Northwest RPDC Region
Terry Hopgood – Region 6, South Central RPDC Region
Suzy Cutbirth – Region 7, Southwest RPDC Region
Nicole Nolan – Region 8, St. Louis RPDC Region
Sherri Carter – Region 9, Central RPDC Region
Dee Ann Aull, SDLC Representative
Doug Miller, DESE and Leadership Academy Representative
Marcia Haskin, Executive Director, MSDC
Carrie Scales, Administrative Assistant, MSDC
Conference Theme: Stepping out for High Quality Staff Development
Location: Tan Tar A
Linda Shippy – President
Kathy Diehl, 1st vice
Jody Wood – 2nd vice
DeeAnn Aull – Secretary
Linda Crain – Treasurer
Kathy Blackmore – past president
Connie Burkhardt – member at large
Cynthia Johnson – Member at large
Connie Toney – region 1
Mary Anne Graham – region 2
Gloria Henry – region 3
Larry Smoot – region 4
Jane Jackson – region 5
Liz Condray – region 6
Suzy Cutbirth –region 7
Nichole Nolan – region 8
Sherri Carter – region 9
Chris Guinther – SDLC
Doug Miller – DESE
Executive director – Marcia Haskin
Conference Theme: Imagine the Possibilities
Location: Tan Tar A
Kathy Diehl – President
Jody Wood, 1st vice
Colleen Jones – 2nd vice
DeeAnn Aull – Secretary
Linda Crain – Treasurer
Linda Shippy – past president
Connie Burkhardt – member at large
Suzy Cutbirth – Member at large
Terri Fischer-Reed – region 1
Karen Busiere – region 2
Lacee Sell – region 3
Larry Smoot – region 4
Jane Jackson – region 5
Liz Condray – region 6
Cathy Galland –region 7
Jennifer Sisul – region 8
Sherri Carter – region 9
Chris Guinther – SDLC
Doug Miller – DESE
Conference Theme:
Location: Tan Tar A
Jody Wood – President
Colleen Jones, 1st vice
Terri Fischer-Reed – 2nd vice
DeeAnn Aull – Secretary
Linda Crain – Treasurer
Linda Shippy – past president
Connie Burkhardt – member at large
Suzy Cutbirth – Member at large
Terri Fischer-Reed – region 1
Karen Busiere – region 2
Lacee Sell – region 3
Larry Smoot – region 4
Jane Jackson – region 5
Liz Condray – region 6
Cathy Galland –region 7
Jennifer Sisul – region 8
Sherri Carter – region 9
Chris Guinther – SDLC
Doug Miller – DESE
Conference Theme: Tapestry of Learning
Location: Hilton, Branson
Colleen Jones – President
Karen Seifert, 1st vice
Terri Fischer-Reed – 2nd vice
Marissa Walsh – Secretary
Linda Crain – Treasurer
Jody Wood – past president
Brian Garner – member at large
Suzy Cutbirth – Member at large
Andy Comstock – region 1
Karen Busiere – region 2
Maria Fleming – region 3
Donnie Campbell – region 4
Lysander Overstreet – region
Liz Condray – region 6
Cathy Galland –region 7
Ros VanHecke – region 8
Woods Prael – region 9
Ann Jarrett – SDLC
Doug Miller – DESE
Conference Theme: Working on a Dream
Location: Hilton, Branson
Speakers: Lonnie Moore, Kevin Honeycutt, Joellen Killion,
Karen Seifert – President
Linda Crain, 1st vice
Marissa Walsh – Secretary
Jody Wood – Treasurer
Colleen Jones – past president
Stacy Keith – member at large
Suzy Cutbirth – Member at large
Andy Comstock – region 1
Josh Green – region 2
Maria Fleming – region 3
Donnie Campbell – region 4
Lysander Overstreet – region 5
Michelle Smith – region 6
Deb Wycuff –region 7
Ros VanHecke – region 8
Woods Prael – region 9
Rochel Daniels – region 10
Ann Jarrett – MNEA
Cindy Whitaker – MSTA
Conference Theme: Lead. . . Grow. . . Learn
Location: Chateau on the Lake, Branson
Speakers: Pat Wolfe, Tom Guskey, Rene Isles
Linda Crain – President
Stacy Keith, 1st vice
Nichole Nolan – Secretary
Jody Wood – Treasurer
Karen Seifert – past president
Andy Comstock – region 1
Josh Green – region 2
Maria Fleming – region 3
Donnie Campbell – region 4
Lysander Overstreet – region 5
Michelle Smith – region 6
Deb Wycuff –region 7
Liz Morrison – region 8
Bryan McDonald – region 9
Rochel Daniels – region 10
Ann Jarrett –MNEA
Cindy Whitaker – MStA
Conference Theme: Believe It and Achieve It
Location: Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia, MO
Speakers: Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Jay McTighe
Linda Crain – President
Liz Morrison, 1st vice
Nichole Nolan – Secretary
Jody Wood – Treasurer
Karen Seifert – past president
Andy Comstock – region 1
Josh Green – region 2
Maria Fleming – region 3
Donnie Campbell – region 4
Shannon Nolte – region 5
Michelle Smith – region 6
Deb Wycuff –region 7
Stephanie True – region 8
Bryan McDonald – region 9
Rochel Daniels – region 10
Ann Jarrett –MNEA
Cindy Whitaker – MSTA
Conference Theme: Plug into Professional Learning
Location: Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia, MO
Speakers: Allan November, Jim Knight
Liz Morrison – President
Nichole Nolan, 1st vice
Deb Wycuff – Secretary
Jody Wood – Treasurer
Karen Seifert – past president
Andy Comstock – region 1
TBD – region 2
Rochel Daniels – region 3
Donnie Campbell – region 4
Open – region 5
Jamie Thompson – region 6
Chris Templeton –region 7
Stephanie True – region 8
Bryan McDonald – region 9
Rochel Daniels – region 10
Ann Jarrett –MNEA
Cindy Whitaker – MSTA
Conference Theme: Moving the Learning Forward
Location: Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia, MO
Speakers: Harry & Rosemary Wong, Steve Barkley
Nichole Nolan – President
Jody Wood, 1st vice
Deb Wycuff – Secretary
Linda Crain – Treasurer
Liz Morrison – past president
Andy Comstock – region 1
Mary Sasser – region 2
Rochel Daniels – region 3
Kim Winkler – region 4
Open – region 5
Jamie Thompson – region 6
Chris Templeton –region 7
Adam Estes – region 8
Bryan McDonald – region 9
Rochel Daniels – region 10
Ann Jarrett –MNEA
Cindy Whitaker – MSTA
Julie Blain – RPD
Conference Theme: Celebrating 20 Years of Professional Learning
Location: Tan Tar A, Osage Beach, MO
Speakers: Michael Rutherford, Doug Reeves, Ken O’Connor
Jody Wood – President
Bryan McDonald, 1st vice
Chris Templeton – Secretary
Linda Crain – Treasurer
Nichole Nolan – past president
Patty Robertson – region 1
Mary Sasser – region 2
Rochel Daniels – region 3
Kim Winkler – region 4
Donella Sherry – region 5
Jamie Thompson – region 6
Jay Roth –region 7
Adam Estes – region 8
Beth Mulvey – region 9
Rochel Daniels – region 10
Ann Jarrett –MNEA
Cindy Whitaker – MSTA
Mary Ann Burns – RPDC