ABOUT DAVID

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 With three decades working with schools, school systems, regional and state agencies and national education organizations David Cook, Principal Strategist at Learning Ecosystems Design, is an expert on what it takes to make change happen in education systems. David is a nationally respected voice in the transformation conversation. He retired in 2024 from the state agency level after 27 years at the Kentucky Department of Education, the last 15 as Director of Innovative Learning. During his tenure he has:

• Oversaw a statewide initiative (United We Learn) to shift assessment, accountability and the credentialing of learning from a one size fits all state level approach, to one where communities design Local Accountability Models that measure the competencies found in a Portrait of a Learner/Graduate and provide a public facing dashboard for those local indicators. (2021-2024).  This effort eventually resulted in new accountability legislation (HB257-2026).
• Directed Kentucky's development of a competency-based education system including the initial efforts in developing a Portrait of a Learner
• Co-authored and implemented the first district level innovation zone program in the country, Kentucky's Districts of Innovation Program (2013). 
• Designed and implemented the longest continuously operating statewide remote learning system in the country, Kentucky's Non-Traditional Instruction Program (2011).
• Authored Kentucky's award-winning Education Recovery Program (2010).
• Has authored and co-authored numerous pieces of legislation and Kentucky Board of Education administrative regulation.