Back in 1977, Lu Kiser, then Ames Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction got Tom Budnik involved with Iowa ASCD as co-chair of (IC)², the Iowa Curriculum and Instruction Conference, then Iowa's premiere conference on curriculum and instruction.  Tom was a new Iowa State PhD in Curriculum and Instructional Media, employed with Heartland AEA as a Planning, Research and Evaluation Coordinator, and had no idea that this opportunity would lead to world travels on behalf of ASCD. 

He loved his involvement in Iowa ASCD and soon was elected to serve as Membership Chair.  This service gave him an opportunity to get to know similar minded educators from across the state, many of whom became close friends.  He served on the Iowa ASCD board for many years and assisted in attracting Dr. Paul Brimm as Iowa ASCD's first Executive Director.  The organization was rapidly growing in membership and Paul, a retired UNI professor known for his pioneer work in middle school education, was a perfect fit for the organization. 

Tom was elected Iowa ASCD president and served in that role in 1983-84.  Following his term, Dr. Brimm became ill and later succumbed to cancer; Dr. Budnik was then recruited to take over as Iowa ASCD's second Executive Director, a position he held until 1995. 

During his tenure as Iowa ASCD Executive Director, there were many meetings in Alexandria, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. with the parent organization ASCD, and there he met educators from all over the United Stated and many other countries as ASCD was becoming more of an international organization.  That involvement prompted him to run for the ASCD Executive Committee, now the Board.  In that national election, he garnered a spot on the Executive Committee and served from 1992-1995.  During that time, he got his first taste of international travel, and he loved having the opportunity to be involved internationally and shape educational reform as a representative of ASCD.  And then he was nominated to become the next President-elect of ASCD, and amazingly, this Iowa guy prevailed over an international candidate, and he eventually served three years as an officer, taking on the presidency in 1998-1999.  All the while he continued to be employed with Heartland AEA, ultimately serving as School Improvement Coordinator and retiring in 2000.

Immediately after retirement, his career took a completely different direction as he was employed as Sales Associate and Business Manager for Durlam and Durlam Clothiers in Ames.  During his early career, he had worked part time, more or less consistently, as a men's clothing associate and this was a nice change of pace.  "Well," Budnik shared, "I didn't last very long at that venture and left in 2003 for yet another very different line of work, when I became a funeral associate for a local funeral home."  This work was very satisfying and he viewed it as a kind of ministry to people who were experiencing a very stressful and difficult time in their lives.  It wasn't long, however, when the world of education called again, and he was asked to consider a position with the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines as Director of Educational Services.  He accepted the position in 2004 and worked there until another opportunity came along in 2008 when he was recruited by his pastor to serve as principal of St. Cecilia Catholic Elementary School, a PK-5 school of some 225 students.  He had never been a principal before, though he had evaluated them in his role with the Des Moines Diocese.  He loved his new job and "at last I was closer to the students than I had been since I left teaching in 1976."

Tom Budnik remained principal of St. Cecilia School for two years, and as his license would expire at the beginning of 2011, thought it best to retire for good the third time.  He returned to his work as a funeral associate and during the 2010 Christmas holidays, received a call from Holy Trinity Catholic School in Des Moines.  It seems that their assistant principal was offered a position with the Iowa DE and they were seeking a person to serve as interim assistant until the end of the school year.  Their offer was attractive, and he learned that he could seek an extension on his license, so he began his service there just a few weeks ago.  He was introduced as the "Brett Favre" of the education world. 

"I am happy to work with students and staff yet one more time, as is Terri, my wife of 50 years.  We continue to live in Ames, and recently 'upsized' to a new townhome.  I feel good and look forward to other opportunities, since I'm convinced I will never really fully retire.  I occasionally sing for funeral services, and have taken to kayaking though the Iowa weather limits me to the warmer months.  Recently, I purchased a shiny red Mazda Miata convertible, and am looking forward to letting my non-existing hair blow in the wind on a warm spring day as my 'bride' and I tool around Iowa."

He sends his best wishes to all of his Iowa ASCD friends.  "If I have any simple advice to offer, it is to keep active and involved in some service to others.  It's working for me, and I'm confident it will work for you as well.  Peace."         

The 2011 agenda calls on Congress to revamp the accountability system to a model that is student-focused, rewards-based, and encompasses all core academic subjects. The agenda also recommends a new federal goal to close the international achievement gap between the United States and other countries and to provide comprehensive support for educators so that students benefit from a highly effective teacher in every classroom.

The legislative agenda, unveiled at ASCD's Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy, will help the association, its members, and other educators influence policy discussions and decisions about federal education legislation, as well as reforms at the state and local levels.  Iowa participants in this institute included Iowa ASCD board members, Susan Pecinovsky and Pam Armstrong-Vogel, and the executive director, Lou Howell.  In addition, the team representing Malcom Price Laboratory School and winner of ASCD's first Whole Child Award were also present and included, Amy Lockhart, Clare Struck, Jody Stone, Lynn Countryman, and Dwight Watson.

Paul Healey, ASCD president-elect and chair of the legislative committee, shared that "ASCD educators, as classroom experts, are providing guidance to lawmakers about what is working best in their schools and districts and how federal policies can support these ongoing efforts. We believe ESEA is one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress should pass this year."

The agenda emphasizes the need for

A complete rewrite of the federal education law. ESEA must not be just tinkered with, but completely overhauled to support our efforts to provide a world-class education to every student.

College- and career-readiness. Congress must embrace college- and career-readiness standards that include proficiency in reading, math, science, social science, the arts, civics, foreign language, health education and physical education, technology, and all other core academic subjects.

Equity and access. All children must have an equitable share of resources commensurate with their learning needs, as well as access to personalized learning; a well-rounded education; a highly effective teacher in every subject; and support from qualified, caring adults.

Capacity-building assistance and information dissemination. Federal support and coordination can help states and districts build meaningful capacity to improve student achievement and school quality through robust investments in education research, the enhancement of a world-renowned education clearinghouse of innovation, and the dissemination of best practices to sustain highly effective educators.

Federal accountability requirements. The current adequate yearly progress system is irretrievably broken. The education accountability mandate needs to be transformed from one that is punitive, federally prescriptive, and overly bureaucratic to a model that rewards achievement, is state-driven and peer reviewed, and promotes supportive learning communities and a culture of continuous improvement.

ASCD's legislative agenda is developed by its legislative committee, a diverse cross section of individuals from ASCD's membership, representing various facets of the profession.   Bill Wright, former superintendent of Denison Community Schools, serves on this committee.  

 "Each student deserves a highly effective teacher in every classroom," says Sara Shubel, ASCD president. "Congress' rewrite of ESEA must support educators in gaining and sustaining professional knowledge and skills to address their students' evolving needs; identify the essential, research-based elements of teacher effectiveness; and help states develop fair teacher evaluation methods based on that common definition of effectiveness."

The entire legislative agenda can be downloaded at http://www.ascd.org/public-policy/Legislative-Agenda/Legislative-Agenda.aspx.