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Last month, our team from Durango School District attended the inaugural EdLeader Promise Network Annual Event, and I'm thrilled to report that the magic is still alive.

Karen Cheser, superintendent, Durango School District (Colo.), speaks on stage at the EdLeader Promise Network Annual Event in Glendale, Ariz.

As someone who had been part of the Edleader21community since 2011 across three different districts, I'll admit I approached this first conference following the merger with Âܲ·AVÊÓƵwith some apprehension. Would the unique culture of collaboration and innovation that made Edleader21 so special survive this transition? Would we still find that inspiring energy that has fueled our work for over a decade?

I'm delighted to say: absolutely, yes.

What I've learned through this experience is that the true power of the EdLeader Promise Network has always resided in its member districts—the educators, leaders, and board members who show up ready to learn, share, and push each other forward. The merger hasn't diluted this spirit; if anything, it has amplified our collective voice and reach.

Our Durango team exemplified why these connections matter so much. We brought our Board president, our newest principal, and three district leaders who work directly with teachers and principals on implementing our Portrait of a Graduate, career-connected learning initiatives, and social-emotional learning programs. This diverse team composition ensured we could absorb insights from multiple perspectives and immediately see applications across our system.

And absorb we did. Our team didn't just leave inspired—though we certainly were—we left with tangible, practical strategies and tools that we implemented in our schools the very next week.

We came home with Portrait of a Graduate teacher reflection forms that will deepen our faculty's engagement with our graduate profile.

We discovered innovative approaches to developing capstone presentations with younger students, expanding our thinking about what's possible at every grade level.

Perhaps most importantly, we gained a renewed focus on student agency, with concrete strategies for putting young people at the center of their learning journey.

The sessions were rich with ideas, but equally valuable were the conversations in hallways, over meals, and during breaks. We made new friends from districts facing similar challenges and opportunities. We reconnected with colleagues we've learned from over the years, picking up conversations where we left off and discovering new ways to support each other's work. These relationships form the backbone of the EdLeader Promise Network, creating a nationwide community of practice that extends far beyond any single event.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Âܲ·AVÊÓƵand Battelle for Kids teams who worked to ensure this transition preserved what makes our community so precious. Mergers are never simple and maintaining the heart and soul of Edleader21 while building something even stronger required intentionality, care, and deep understanding of what matters most to member districts.

As we continue our work in Durango, we do so energized and equipped with new tools, inspired by fresh ideas, and supported by a national network of fellow travelers committed to reimagining what's possible for every student.

The EdLeader Promise community is alive and well—and our students will be the ultimate beneficiaries.

Learn More About the EdLeader Promise Network

The EdLeader Promise Network is a powerful new community that unites AASA’s Learning 2025 Network with Battelle for Kids’ EdLeader21 Network.