In 1972, I literally traded one farm for another and left Iowa for the Stanford Graduate School of Education. That decision led me to a stimulating and extremely fulfilling career in education, including 17 years on the Iowa State Board of Education.

This past fall I completed two terms on the Stanford Graduate School of Education Advisory Council. Through my service, I learned a great deal about the work of the school, and the most remarkable discovery was simply this: Stanford GSE’s ivory tower informs and transforms the field; conversely, the challenges on the ground inspire and directly influence the extraordinary work of the faculty and students at the GSE.

This reciprocal relationship between the tower and the field uniquely positions Stanford to transform teaching and learning. Your gift to the Education Fund helps sustain and enhance this transformative work. GSE research is changing the way schools do business by increasing their capacity for teaching and learning. Some recent examples:

• In partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District, GSE scholars have demonstrated how a redesign of the American History curriculum can increase engagement and student achievement.

• A Nobel Prize-winning professor of physics tested the transformation of the traditional lecture hall into an interactive experience with impressive learning outcomes.

• To benefit early learners, a doctoral student is fine-tuning his innovative project to share literacy strategies with parents through text messages.

I could go on but the point is this: GSE research is driven by real problems in our schools and communities. After almost two decades serving as a state education policymaker, I can assure you that this kind of collaboration between higher education and PK-12 is not only essential, it holds the key to capacity building for both and may be the most powerful tool in improving education.

Become a partner in this game-changing collaboration — please join me and my family in making an unrestricted gift to support the Stanford Graduate School of Education.

Wishing you health and happiness in 2015.

To learn more about the annual fund or make a gift, please click here.