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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Dear Friends and Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Today, February 28, is my last day as the Director of Professional Development here at the KU Center for Research on Learning. These last 13 years have been a privilege, some of the best years of my professional
life, and that is because of you, the SIM Network, and my incredible colleagues here. You have taught me to be a better learner, listener, teacher and supporter. Don Deshler and Jean Schumaker made my dreams come true when they invited me to apply to earn
my Ph.D. here with them. That acceptance into the program, and later the offer to take on this role was at once tremendously humbling and thrilling, especially given those who I would follow into this role, Fran Clark and Janet Roth. Janet had the wisdom to
bring Mona Tipton into the role of Assistant Director which made my transition much smoother. I had so much to learn, but the collegiality of Mona and Julie Tollefson and David Gnojek ensured I had great guides and provided stability for the Network. When
Peony Allen joined us, our team was truly complete. Gosh, we have had fun!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A search for the new Director is in progress, and with Mona and Peony by their side, they will succeed beautifully. We, the Network, will welcome them in their new role and support them in their endeavors
on our behalf. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">With unending gratitude and eternal thankfulness, I leave this role, yet remain a part of the SIM network. We will see each other at the SIMposium, and I look forward to hanging out with you.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> ~ A.A. Milne
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">And, of course, I don’t really have to!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Most sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Patty</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Patricia Graner, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Director of Professional Development<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Center for Research on Learning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">The University of Kansas<br>
O: 785.864.0622 </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="https://sim.ku.edu/"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://sim.ku.edu/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">SIM is on Facebook</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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