Longview School Director Ted Thomas has been sworn in as president of the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). The swearing-in ceremony took place this past Saturday in Seattle during WSSDA’s annual conference.

As WSSDA president for 2008, Thomas serves as an advocate for school boards and their efforts to promote student achievement. He represents the association and communicates its positions to legislators, members of Congress, the State Board of Education, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the U.S. Department of Education. Thomas will lead WSSDA in working with other state-level education associations, including the Association of Washington School Principals, Washington Association of School Administrators, the Washington Education Association and many others, to advocate for a stronger public school system.

Thomas was elected president-elect by WSSDA members last year. The president-elect automatically becomes president of the association in the following year.

Thomas, a member of the Longview School Board for ten years, was the association’s vice president in 2006 and also chaired the WSSDA Legislative Committee for three years. He has served on the WSSDA Urban Issues Committee and various sub-committees and task forces, and is a member of the WSSDA Federal Relations Network.