Wow, thank you for making this year's conference such a success! Meeting rooms were full for a reason: 730 board members, representing 311 school districts, attended this year's Annual Fall Conference. In addition, 429 people took CBA classes throughout the weekend. It's so great to see so many board members committed to building their skills to become better board members.
MASB members began the morning with NSBA President Mary Broderick, who spoke of the need for boards of education to align ourselves and our community behind a common vision. Mary made note of the fact that public education and locally elected school board leadership are under attack. But in the face of this negativity, we need to stay focused on what the ideal is that we want for our kids, and continue to pursue that ideal. She spoke of three elements that are critical for learning:
- Need to feel competent.
- Need to feel a sense of belonging.
- Need to feel we have control of our own destiny.
In order to remain focused on our vision, school boards members need to keep personal agendas out of it. The work isn't about ourselves, it's about our collective purpose. Mary concluded by saying that she's hopeful about public education and school board leadership because of the spirit of board members like those in Michigan.
Mary also had the pleasure of presenting to of our dedicated board members with the NSBA President's Award: Nels Christopherson, Houghton-Portage Townships Schools and Debbie Stellini, Taylor School District. Congratulations to both of them for all of their efforts on behalf of the students of Michigan.