Blake West

Blake West joined the organ staff at Community of Christ International Headquarters in 1980. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1978 with degrees in music and also mathematics education. His organ study has been with Bethel Knoche and Dr. Mary Lou Robinson (at KU). In addition to volunteering on the organ staff, Blake continued his career in Blue Valley School District teaching mathematics, computer science, and as technology coordinating teacher until 2001, when he took a leave of absence to serve as an officer of the Kansas National Education Association. Blake currently is the President of KNEA.  He earned a Masters in Counseling in 1984, did postgraduate study in Computer Science in 1988, and earned a Doctorate in Instructional Leadership in 1994. He serves in various other leadership roles including work with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the National Institutes of Health, the Microsoft Partners in Learning Advisory Board, the Kansas Learning First Alliance, and chair of the NEA Technology Compact Committee. Blake plays organ and piano, sings, and speaks at various congregations around Kansas City and Topeka but he and his wife make the Lenexa branch of Community of Christ their church home.