My time as president of NSBA comes to a close at our annual conference in April. It’s a good time to reflect on my year serving as president.

Traveling across the country to meet school board and school committee members and to attend state conferences proved to be an enlightening experience these past 12 months. Meeting state members and school board members face to face provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and build collaborative networks. The passion and dedication of these individuals for the students in their states was evident through the programming offered and conversations I was lucky enough to have. Although the landscapes differ from state to state and region to region, improving and enhancing the educational systems are goals we all share.

Spending time talking with colleagues from around the country and listening to the challenges and solutions happening in our public schools always gives me a renewed sense of purpose and confidence to be able to do the work needed to ensure our students get the best possible education and resources to achieve their goals, dreams, and aspirations for their future.

As the year progressed, NSBA’s board embraced the changes new CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs brought, including internal changes and a new fiscal stability plan. After the 2023 annual conference in Orlando, a highlight was welcoming our member states to Utah for our Summer Leadership Seminar (SLS) for a much needed in-person meeting. We all want to be inspired and lifted up from the sometimes difficult and challenging work we engage in, and SLS certainly provided opportunities for growth.

Amidst some of the financial challenges of becoming a smaller association, our board, staff, and CEO worked tirelessly to ensure the highest quality of service for our members, as adjustments were made so NSBA could remain the flagship organization for public school advocacy in our nation. Exploring new partnerships and grants while changing the “old” ways of doing things has created an energy and environment that will make us stronger and better for the future.

Concluding my term as president was a reflective moment, marked by accomplishments and the anticipation of a new chapter. It has been a privilege working with the NSBA Board of Directors, NSBA officers, Verjeana, and staff through a year of growth, fostering collaboration, and supporting impactful governance changes. I have had transformative experiences which have provided invaluable insight into leadership and decision-making processes.

When I introduced myself to you on stage at the annual conference in Orlando last year and in the pages of this magazine, I told you that I am both a proud military brat and a fan of NASA and all things related to space travel and exploration. I compared school boards to mission control, operating like NASA engineers in the movie “Apollo 13.”

Being on a school board is not about thinking you have all the answers to solve the district's problems. As school board members, we make use of all our abilities, tools, materials, and resources collectively to solve issues and to make sure our schools continue to work for our children, staff, parents, and community. 

I am looking forward to transitioning into the role of past president, taking on a role of mentor and advisor and encouraging the momentum that has been built this past year, to keep it going.