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Reflections on the past decade
Foreword by Ben Silberglitt, Co-Chair, Association Board of Directors
I can still remember my first A4L conference in 2016. Walking into the room, filled with people whose names I recognized from emails and phone conversations, the “old guard” of SIF. I had so much respect for that group that had founded not just a standard but a movement, a cause worth fighting for, to simplify the way education data was shared across the rapidly increasing number of software systems that schools, districts, and states were using to manage the operational and instructional business of education. And I also saw opportunities for change and modernization, as we looked to move forward and continue to ensure that our cause was relevant to the needs of our stakeholders. I found a like-minded group within the organization, and together we created exciting new possibilities at A4L.
And now, looking back, it’s incredible to see what the hard work of such a dedicated group of A4L staff and volunteers has been able to bring. The growth of the SDPC, the evolution of the NDPA and the Registry 2.0, the modernization of SIF with Unity, the birth of the PODs, the GESS work, so many new capabilities have been developed to help meet the needs of educators across the globe. It has been one of the more satisfying experiences of my career, to be a part of helping guide this organization through a period of significant change and upheaval, and land on the other side with a thriving organization that provides relevant, modern interoperability and privacy solutions to educators. We are continuing to realize the dream of those founding members, while continually transforming ourselves to stay both in step and a step ahead of the organizations we serve.
A key reason we are so successful at this is that we are a heavily volunteer-driven, participatory organization. Rather than being guided by a large staff or an opaque funding organization, A4L is membership-funded, lean, and the work we do is guided primarily by all of us. Does that make things messy sometimes, when lots of people are at the table who have different priorities and perspectives? Absolutely. Once we navigate that diversity of ideas, does that make for lasting, impactful change that directly meets the needs of the Community? As we say here in my home state of Minnesota, you betcha. And the success we are seeing is the proof: our Community model works.
A4L is a growing community with talented leadership, both on staff and in our volunteer membership. I want to personally recognize Steve Smith and his leadership; his unassuming yet determined work ethic and broad vision have been instrumental to our rebirth. And I also want to thank my board co-chair, Ramah Hawley, who provides not just a fantastic counterpoint and balance to our shared leadership, but a wealth of ideas and a passion for making the lives of educators and students better. In addition to being inspiring, you both made this work a lot of fun.
As my career takes a new direction, I am stepping away from the A4L Board of Directors. I look forward to seeing new leadership and new ideas emerge from the many talented people that are a part of our Community – the next “new guard”. I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to help lead this organization, and for your support as we worked together to navigate change. We have truly emerged stronger.
Yours in partnership,
Ben Silberglitt
Global Community News:
Reflections on the past decade; A welcomed change of seasons; Welcome new members!; A4L Annual Meeting 2025: Overview; A call to Action for Education Technology Stakeholders; In Case You Missed Them…; SIF Infrastructure Specification 3.7 (global) published!; and Community Project Team Updates.
NA Community News:
A4L Announce North American Leadership for 2025-2026; SIF Unity Story: Oklahoma
Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) News:
SDPC Resource Registry 1.0: Access Changes; Privacy Training for Vendors… coming soon!; Balancing Innovation and Privacy: Addressing The Challenges of Vetting EdTech Tools for Schools; National Data Privacy Agreement v2.1—now available!