NYSSBA offers summer leadership event for school board members Aug. 12-13

School board members from around New York will gather at the Crowne Plaza Albany – Desmond Hotel on Aug. 12 and 13 for a series of education sessions designed to introduce new members to the fundamentals of board service, and enable veteran members to enhance their governance knowledge and skills.

The two-day “Leadership in Education” event will feature presentations on the role school boards play in promoting democracy, steps for supporting mental health in schools, and helping students thrive despite learning opportunities missed during the pandemic.

"This event will provide a chance for new board members to navigate the changing public education landscape before the new school year gets rolling," NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider said. "Moreover, as we emerge from some limitations imposed by the pandemic, we are happy to offer this opportunity for school board members to refresh their leadership skills and learn about best practices in governance."

The conference is designed to bring together a broad spectrum of school board members, regardless of how long they have served. Three Friday sessions will provide state-mandated training for new board members, while concurrent sessions for experienced members will address governance challenges such as running an effective meeting in a civil manner, engaging the community and building board consensus.

A Friday morning panel of experts will kick off the conference at 8:30 a.m. with a discussion of the role school boards play in the American tradition of democracy. They will address the importance of public education for helping students build critical thinking skills and respect differing views of others.

The conference will conclude Saturday with a noon luncheon presentation by 2021-22 New York State Superintendent of the Year Dr. Donna DeSiato, the superintendent of the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District, who will speak about connecting the classroom to the community.

More information about the “Leadership in Education” event and agenda is available at Leadership in Education Event - New York State School Boards Association (nyssba.org)

The New York State School Boards Association represents more than 670 school boards and more than 5,200 school board members in New York. NYSSBA provides advocacy, training and information to school boards in support of their mission to govern the state's public schools.