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We’re Working for You: 2020 Member Survey Results
In Fall 2020, ASBA conducted a comprehensive membership survey that included questions about programs and services as well as your beliefs and perceptions about the association. Respondents reflected the diversity of ASBA member districts and the individuals who serve on those boards.
The purpose of the survey was to ensure that we are providing the value, excellence, access and influence you expect as members of the association, as well as to check our progress on the strategic goals set by our board of directors on your behalf. Thank you to all members who completed the survey, enabling us to engage in this important work of continuous improvement.
Growth and Improvement
On questions that were carried over from our last membership survey, which was conducted in 2014, strongly agree answers increased significantly. In 2020, more ASBA members strongly agree that:
- ASBA recognizes, values and respects the diversity of Arizona school leaders and students. +32%
- ASBA is a strong customer service organization. +30%
- Attending ASBA training and professional development has helped me be a more effective board member. +22%
- ASBA represents the interests of my district/schools at the Legislature and in the courts. +22%
- ASBA is considered an effective organization. +22%
- My board has an opportunity for its voice to be heard on shaping ASBA’s Political Agenda. +21%
- ASBA is flexible and responds quickly to members’ needs. +16%
- ASBA provides opportunities for me to advocate for Arizona public education and the needs of my district. +16%
- ASBA is a leader in leveraging diversity as an asset for Arizona public schools. +8%
Progress on Strategic Goals
Many questions on the survey related to our strategic goals and objectives.
GOAL: Advocacy
ASBA is the most influential voice for public education.
In addition to the results related to the advocacy goal that are shown above in green:
70 percent of members agree that ASBA is the most influential voice for public education in Arizona.
GOAL: Leadership Development
Develop highly effective board members and educational leaders and promote leadership
opportunities beyond their district.
In addition to the results related to the leadership development goal that are shown above in orange:
85 percent of members agree that ASBA provides opportunities for school board members to lead beyond their local board role AND that if they wanted to be more involved with ASBA they feel they could.
GOAL: Equity
Arizona school district leaders understand equity in education and are taking action steps to ensure every student achieves their full potential.
In addition to the results related to the equity goal that are shown above in blue:
88 percent of members agree that ASBA is a leader in supporting the school board’s role in educational equity.
Finally, 97 percent of members agree that ASBA staff has the expertise needed to serve members well.
We thank you for that vote of confidence and look forward to continuing to grow in our service to members and our commitment to cultivating excellence in locally governed school districts in pursuit of the best schools in every Arizona community!
Meet ASBA’s 2021 President-Elect, Monica Trejo
Get to know ASBA’s Board of Directors by reading their profile.
Name, district and county: Monica Trejo, Tempe Elementary School District, Maricopa County
How long have you been a board member? Four years
How do you define leadership in school boardsmanship? Now, more than ever strong leadership in school boardsmanship is critical. Leadership takes many forms for school board members. However, the decisions we make must always prioritize the safety and learning in our districts.
What is your favorite ASBA conference/event and why? My favorite ASBA event is the Summer Leadership Institute. It provides an opportunity to come together as a board and reflect on the successes and challenges of the school year. We are able to evaluate and assess how we can continue growth and improvement as a board and district.
What do you like best about serving on the ASBA Board of Directors? I am a new member of the ASBA Board of Directors, and I look forward to collaborating with members throughout Arizona to see how we can best support them and their districts.
How has ASBA helped you become a better school board member? Professional development is essential for our learning and growth as district leaders. ASBA provides quality training and resources for school board members. I am thankful for the opportunities that ASBA has provided, which has helped me become a more efficient and effective board member.
ASBA/GCU Contest: Win an exclusive keynote presentation and virtual tour for your district’s students!
Pass this opportunity on to principals and teachers in your school district! Win an exclusive presentation for your district’s students with Byron Garrett, ASBA’s 2020 Annual Conference keynote speaker, PLUS a virtual tour of Grand Canyon University and great GCU souvenirs for students. This amazing virtual experience will take place in May 2021. Entries open January 19, 2021, and close February 22, 2021.
Byron Garrett is the CEO of Equal Opportunity Schools, Chairman of the National Family Engagement Alliance, former Director of Educational Leadership & Policy for Microsoft and former CEO of National PTA.
Eligibility:
Entries must be from ASBA member districts. Participating students must be part of the program or initiative, in fifth grade or higher and attend a Title I school.
List of member districts here.
Criteria:
In 300 words, tell us about a program or initiative in your district that is engaging and inspiring youth to be change agents in their communities. A photo reflecting the program or initiative must also be submitted with the entry. Entry can be submitted by an authorized representative but must be approved by the school principal or district administrator.
Submission Deadline:
The winning district will be notified by March 1, 2021. Presented by Grand Canyon University and the Arizona School Boards Association.
Submit entry here, https://azsba.org/gcu-asba-student-contest/
Rural and remote district leaders urged to speak out to legislators on digital divide
On Thursday, Jan. 21, at a meeting of the ASBA Rural Alliance, rural and remote public school leaders were urged to speak about the digital divide and call for permanent solutions to bring reliable internet to their students. ASBA has created a customizable advocacy letter to assist.
(Watch a recording of the meeting. Use access passcode: Rural2021!)
This call to action came during a presentation on The Final Mile Project, which is focused on delivering dependable internet to students in rural and remote Arizona. The project is being led by the Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA) and the Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC) in concert with Arizona county school superintendents. Project leaders are currently working to identify build-out opportunities to extend existing networks “the final mile” and establish patterns of service, using whatever technology the area dictates, that will overcome the potential deficit. The group will also seek funding to pay for the “clearinghouse” of potential projects.
During the presentation, Wes Brownfield, ARSA executive director, and Dick Foreman, ABEC executive director, encouraged rural and remote district leaders to immediately begin legislative advocacy to help build understanding and support for the project as well as other permanent solutions for closing the digital divide.
Kenney Denney, a member of the Kirkland ESD governing board and president of the ASBA Rural Alliance, reiterated the call to action at the meeting, saying, “We need to let them know that we’re here and we want to see some results.”
To assist members with those efforts, ASBA has created a customizable advocacy letter that can be sent to legislators. It identifies access to the internet as an essential component of a free public education that is “general and uniform” as the Arizona Constitution requires and calls on lawmakers to do all their power to encourage and support providing the lifeline of high-speed internet to rural and remote Arizona – for the health and vitality of businesses and communities, but especially for the education of students.
Click here to download the customizable advocacy letter.
- Email your Senator: https://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=S
- Email your House members: https://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=H
- Email the Senate Education Committee chair: Sen. Paul Boyer (pboyer@azleg.gov)
- Email House Education Committee chair: Rep. Michelle Udall (mudall@azleg.gov)
Why use the ASBA Calendar of Recommended & Required Actions?
Hear from the Paradise Valley Unified School District on the value and use of ASBA’s Calendar of Recommended & Required Actions.
Throughout each year, governing boards periodically must take certain policy-related actions to comply with state and federal laws as well as board policies. Some actions do not have specific time frames, a portion require action on an annual or biennial basis and still others specify finite dates by which action shall have been taken.
State and federal laws as well as governing board policies require school districts to periodically take certain actions. To assist districts ASBA Policy Services publishes a yearly Calendar of Recommended & Required Actions.
The 2021 calendar has been published on the ASBA website. It is strongly recommended that this document is reviewed in concert with recent Policy Advisories, a District’s Policy Manual and Arizona Revised Statutes.
Should there be any questions that arise from the review or subsequent utilization of the information found within the calendar, please do not hesitate to contact ASBA Policy Services.
Is your superintendent or board administrative assistant professional part of the Arizona School Administrative Professionals?
ASAP supports and offers resources to district staff who provide administrative support to governing boards and/or superintendents. To join the ASBA Listserv, please contact jbacon@azsba.org.
View 2021 Calendar of Required Actions
Stay in the know on bills and updates that your ASBA Governmental Relations team provides each week!
For a preview of this week’s agendas, click House Education and Senate Education . We also want to draw your attention to HB 2315, which will be in the House Government committee on Wednesday, January 27. This bill allows school board candidates to use E-Qual to gather electronic signatures to qualify for the ballot! This is straight out of our political agenda, so please log into RTS and show your support for this important bill.
View Recording: New Board Member Advocacy Webinar
If you are a new board member, the Governmental Relations team hosted a lunch and learn webinar Monday, January 25. This webinar covered the basics of how to track and understand the legislative process. View the recording by registering here.
2021 Advocacy Calendar
Our ASBA Communications Department has developed a new tool to help you stay plugged into Advocacy all year long! Click here to download the ASBA Advocacy Calendar for legislative timelines, advocacy tips throughout the year, and more.
Friday Advocacy Updates are Back!
Every Friday at 3pm, your trusty ASBA Governmental Relations team hosts a Facebook Live to recap the last week and give you a flavor of what’s coming up. We’re broadcasting from home via Zoom this year, but it’s the same format you know and love. Head to the ASBA Facebook page to watch it after the fact.
All information can be found on the ASBA Advocacy webpage, https://azsba.org/advocacy/legislative/.
Top Ten Tips for Successful Advocacy! Register for latest #WednesdayWebinar
Register here for the webinar.
Teacher and administrator salary and benefits survey to open on Feb. 8
Each year, the Arizona School Boards Association surveys all school districts in Arizona on teacher and administrator salaries and benefits and compiles the data to provide a valuable resource for comparative analysis and decision-making on issues related to salaries, benefits and budgeting. All districts who complete the survey will receive a summary report of the compiled data, plus a sortable Excel spreadsheet.
Districts who do not complete the survey will receive only the summary data. This is a member benefit, and the results will be shared only with ASBA members. The survey link will be sent directly to the superintendent, business manager and board president for every ASBA member district. Please ensure that one person one person complete and submit the online form no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 22. Questions? Email Tracey Benson, associate executive director, at tbenson@azsba.org..
New superintendent search in Bowie USD plus other districts
Follow ASBA search services on Twitter and LinkedIn!
ASBA is excited to conduct superintendent searches for member districts. Currently we have openings available for: Baboquivari USD, Buckeye UHSD and Bowie USD. Check for search opening, announcements, articles, and other resources by following Twitter and LinkedIn accounts especially created for search services.
More information on these positions will be available on ASBA website under Executive Search. For questions or additional information, please contact Katie Link at klink@azsba.org.
K12 Center introduces Arizona New Teacher Support Program
The mission and purpose of the Arizona New Teacher Support Program is to build capacity for teacher leadership, while providing support to the newest members of the teaching profession. Experienced, accomplished teachers are placed in nonevaluative leadership roles in schools as
mentors to those who are in the first two years of their teaching career. The Arizona K12 Center awards financial assistance to districts/schools/programs to create and sustain an impactful mentoring and induction program.
Successful applicants will receive up to $75,000 per year for two years for a total of $150,000 to support new teacher support in your district, school, or program. The application is now open and closes February 22.
The Arizona New Teacher Support Program is designed to:
- Foster a spirit of accomplishment among Arizona’s teachers.
- Recognize the contribution of excellent teaching in our communities and elevate the status of the profession.
- Provide training and support to those who mentor beginning teachers in schools. throughout Arizona, starting with those in greatest need Arizona Beginning Teacher Induction Program Standards and Arizona’s Professional Teaching Standards serve as the foundation of the Arizona New Teacher Support Program.
Identified mentors participate in ongoing training over a two-year period. Those that successfully complete the training and other elements of the program are recognized
as Arizona Master Teacher Mentors at the conclusion of the two-year cycle.
Read the details on the most recent AZEdNews article and learn more.
AZEdNews Breaking News: COVID-19 vaccinations as a first step to get back into the classroom
Teachers and school staff see receiving COVID-19 vaccinations as a first step to get back into the classroom with their students. Receiving the COVID vaccine is a ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’…READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Upcoming ASBA Events
February 3, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Wednesday Webinars: Top Ten Tips for Successful Advocacy
February 17, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Wednesday Webinars: The New Leading for Equity Guidebook for School Boards
Plus more! You can find all Wednesday webinars on the ASBA webpage, https://azsba.org/events-asba/. Can’t view the webinar live? No problem. Go ahead and register and you will receive the recording automatically by email so you can view it later. There is no cost to register for this webinar. We encourage advance registration.
Register Now: Virtual Board Operations & Leadership Training Seminar
January 29, 2021 & February 12, 2021
BOLTS professional development seminars are provided in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson which focus on leadership topics for school boards and superintendents. An administrative assistant track is also provided. Register now.
AZEDNews Featured Articles
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