Kenneth R. Willard took office, representing Kansas State Board of Education District 7, in January, 2003. He was elected Legislative Coordinator for the State Board for 2005-2006. He was also appointed to the State Board Policy Committee and served as its Chair.

Ken was elected to represent the State Board of Education on the Board of Directors of the Kansas State High School Activities Association for 2003-2005, and was appointed to serve the remaining year of a two-year term on the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Boards of Education, representing the Central Region, in 2004. He was later elected to a full two-year term and served one year of the term, January 2006 through December 2007.