School board members across the state earned awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards in 2023 for their efforts to improve their leadership skills, demonstrating their commitment to student achievement and their own continuous improvement. Awards are earned for classes completed in MASB’s leadership training program, as well as for conference attendance, years of service and leadership activities. Whole boards that achieve and maintain certification status are also recognized.

The training and professional development help board members to keep pace with the fast-moving and complex changes in public education. Last year, more than 1,320 school board members statewide participated in MASB’s professional development program for elected school leaders. The hours devoted to this training are above and beyond the time members spend at their local meetings, events, and reviewing policies and board packets.

“I’ve worked with school boards and public schools for more than 20 years and am always in awe of their commitment,” said MASB Executive Director Don Wotruba, CAE. “Schools are under exceptional pressure to be innovative and reinvent the way they deliver education. Training equips them with the tools necessary to make the best decisions for Michigan’s schoolchildren. The time they spend being servant leaders and honing their skills is second to none.”

A full list of this year's recipients along with an overview of individual and whole board training levels can be viewed on the MASB website.