State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox has been named to the board of directors for the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

Superintendent Cox will serve a one-year term on the nine-member board, which oversees CCSSO, an organization for the nation's state education leaders. She was chosen for the position by her peers at the Council's Annual Policy Forum and Business Meeting last month.

"This is truly an honor," Superintendent Cox said. "CCSSO not only provides input on national policy, but it serves as a resource to education leaders around the country. I look forward to working with the board."

In a letter to Superintendent Cox, CCSSO Executive Director G. Thomas Houlihan said he was looking forward to working with the Superintendent.

"I can't think of anyone in the membership who brings more to the table than you, and for that all of us are deeply indebted to you," he wrote.

Valerie Woodruff, of Delaware, was named President and Elizabeth Burmaster, of Wisconsin, was named President-Elect. Other members of the board are David Driscoll, Massachusetts, past president; Susan Castillo, Oregon, T. Kenneth James, Arizona; D. Kent King, Missouri; Rick Melmer, South Dakota; Wayne G. Sanstead, North Dakota.

CCSSO's opinion and input is sought by many national policymakers, including U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and members of Congress. The council, based in Washington D.C., is comprised of education leaders from the 50 states, Washington D.C., the Department of Defense Education Activity and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions.