The Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City harness the power of working together to strengthen public education and improve student outcomes across our region. CSDGKC connects districts to learn from each other, tackle challenges as one and raise a unified voice on behalf of students.
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Who We Are
The CSDGKC brings school districts across our region together in collaboration to meet the educational needs of the students they serve.
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What We Offer
CSDGKC provides professional development, legislative advocacy, cooperative purchasing and regional coordination to area school districts.
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How We Operate
CSDGKC is a Missouri nonprofit corporation that functions as a Missouri Educational Service Agency (ESA) and holds 501(c)(3) status.
Bates
Buchanan
Caldwell
Cass
Clay
Clinton
Henry
Jackson
Johnson
Lafayette
Pettis
Platte
Ray
Bates Buchanan Caldwell Cass Clay Clinton Henry Jackson Johnson Lafayette Pettis Platte Ray
Whom We Serve
CSDGKC represents 36 school districts, serving more than 180,000 students and 30,000 employees in rural, suburban and urban communities in Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Platte and Ray counties.
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Dr. Kenny Southwick
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Kenny Southwick became the CSDGKC executive director in September 2019. He leads our work, collaborates with our members and partners, and works with our board to bring its vision to life.
Dr. Southwick finished a long career in Missouri schools as superintendent of the Belton School District. He then moved over to Kansas, retiring in 2019 as deputy superintendent of the Shawnee Mission School District.
The Missouri Association of School Administrators gave him the Emerging Superintendent Award in 2000 and Outstanding Emeritus Educator Award in 2011.
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Paul A. Shrout
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES
Paul Shrout came to CSDGKC in August 2011 to serve as our director of business services.
He coordinates the self-insurance pool, facilitates meetings with key groups, surveys members to aid in information-sharing, and helps develop services for members.
His career in education spans more than 50 years, including 20 years as assistant superintendent of human resources in the Lee’s Summit School District. He is active in the Missouri Association of School Personnel Administrators.
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Liz Sedlock
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Liz Sedlock has been part of the CSDGKC team since it began in July 2007.
As our executive assistant, she runs the show! She makes all of our meetings happen, ensuring we have the agendas and materials we need. She maintains our financial information, coordinates our dues and invoices, and manages registration in our events. And she handles all of our general correspondence and communication, including this website.
She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas State University.
