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Sneak peek at Annual Conference speakers, pre-conference plus submit to present

Take a sneak peek at this year’s ASBA/ASA Annual Conference keynote speakers and two pre-conference tracks plus submit to present in person and get ready to apply for ASBA Annual Awards. We are excited to announce the keynote speakers, Karen M. Allen and Shayla Rivera.

Thursday, Dec. 16: Karen M. Allen is a TEDx Speaker, Resilience & Mindset Coach and Founder of The Groflo community.

Friday, Dec. 17: Shayla Rivera is an Aerospace Engineer and former Rocket Scientist with NASA, International Speaker, TEDx Speaker, TV & Radio Host, Emcee/Host, Comedian, Actor, Writer, Seminar Facilitator, Panel Moderator and Awareness Expert.

This year, attendees can attend two half-day pre-conferences Wednesday, Dec. 15 on Board Presidency from 8:30 – 11:45 a.m. and The Board’s Role in Student Achievement from 1:15 – 3:45 p.m.

Is your program a good fit for an ASBA session track?

We are currently looking for 50-minute breakout sessions for Annual Conference 2021 that fall under the tracks: Communications, Climate and Culture, Social Emotional Learning/Trauma-Informed Care and Student Achievement. Click here to learn more.

The deadline for consideration is Friday, Oct. 1. If you have any questions about presenting, please reach out to Nikkie Whaley at nwhaley@azsba.org or 602-254-1100.

Apply for ASBA Annual Awards

It’s your time to shine. We want to celebrate your district’s achievements! Participate in the ASBA Annual Awards Program.

This year, we will be celebrating the following awards:

Barbara Robey ASBA Lifetime Achievement Award

Lou Ella Kleinz Excellence in Governance Award

All-Arizona School Board Member Award

Honor Roll Award

Please note: The Honor Roll Award is the only award that closes November 20 (for recognizing retiring board members)

ASBA Golden Bell Promise Program Award

ASBA Pillar Award for Advocacy

Please note: Student awards have been moved to the spring of 2022.

All nominations and entries must be submitted using the online forms. Nominations open Monday, Sept. 13 and close Friday, October 22.

All details can be found here

County Meetings go virtual this fall plus learn more about running for County Director 

ASBA is virtually coming to your county! Join board members from throughout your county, along with your ASBA County Director, officers from the ASBA Board of Directors and ASBA staff for this year’s County Meeting.

Get the latest information on the happenings of the association, plus updates on timely legislative and public policy issues and an interactive Power Town Hall. Members in nine counties also will be electing their County Director, who will serve a two-year term on the ASBA Board of Directors. Registration is required and at no cost to members.

Here is a sneak preview of the agenda below:

Celebration of Training Accomplishments: All CEU-based award winners, including winners of the Total Board Award, will be recognized for their commitment to their own professional development as board members.

Association Governance: We’re Your Association: Find out how you can play a more active role in the association and learn about upcoming bylaw changes.

County Director Election (if applicable): County Directors serve two-year terms on the ASBA Board of Directors and are elected by their peers during the County Meeting. Elections will be held in the following counties: Cochise, Pima, Yuma, Maricopa, Pinal, Apache, Navajo, Graham and Greenlee.

Power Town Hall – All Means All: This interactive session will focus on the board’s role in supporting student achievement and understanding and addressing gaps.

Legislative and Public Policy Update: You’ll get a briefing on the latest hot topics at the Capitol and in the courts and learn how you can get more involved in advocacy.

Plus, prize drawings and more! Thank you to all the districts that agreed to host the County Meetings this year. We hope to be on your campuses in person next year.

Interested in running to represent your county on the ASBA Board of Directors as County Director?

A candidate must be a seated board member at the time of election and, if elected, throughout their term. In addition, candidates must commit to fulfilling all County Director responsibilities.

Process for Running for County Director

  • Anyone wishing to run for an open County Director seat must notify ASBA of their intent to run a minimum of one-week prior to the meeting by emailing ksisk@azsba.org
  • Running “from the floor” will not be allowed.
  • Candidates will be provided time at the meeting to give a speech of up to three-minutes.
  • If no candidates step forward to run, the ASBA Board of Directors will appoint per ASBA bylaws a County Director prior to the start of the term of office.

We encourage you to learn more about the responsibilities and duties of ASBA County Directors by clicking here. Remember, there is room at the table. We urge you to pull up a chair and get involved with ASBA.

Registration is required. This virtual event is at no cost to members. Members may attend any virtual county meeting but are encouraged to attend their own. Registration closes the Friday prior to each meeting.

Did you receive the letter on the bylaw amendment?

Your ASBA Board of Directors believes a change is long overdue

In 1996, a group of Arizona school board members gathered together to form the Hispanic-Native American Indian Caucus (HNAIC). Their goal was to ensure that the needs of Hispanic and Native students were known and addressed at the state level. The founders believed that representation on the Arizona School Boards Association Board of Directors was necessary to help achieve that goal, and through a change to the bylaws a single seat was added. It was progress, but it created a structural gap in representation that has lasted for 25 years. The seat alternates in two-year periods from a Hispanic representative to a Native American representative. 

Your ASBA Board of Directors believes a change is long overdue. We hope you’ll mark the 25th anniversary of the HNAIC by voting yes on a change to the ASBA bylaws to create a seat on the ASBA Board of Directors so that a Hispanic AND a Native American representative can serve at the same time.

A letter was mailed to all members in July your ASBA Board of Directors. You’ll also be hearing more about this over the next few months, from members of the ASBA Board of Directors, and leaders and members of the HNAIC. In September, you’ll be getting detailed information on this bylaw amendment as well as information on casting your board’s vote. We’ll go over the details at your ASBA County Meeting and we also have a webinar planned Sept. 30 to answer any questions you may have.  

Voting will be open on Sept. 21 and stay open through November. Not only do we need you to participate in the vote, but we also urge you to vote yes so that no students are left behind and no community goes unrepresented. 

Black Alliance establishes Georgie and Calvin Goode Student Scholarship PLUS student panel recording

The Black Alliance of the Arizona School Boards Association has established the Georgie and Calvin Goode Student Scholarship. Two scholarships will be awarded annually to high school seniors who demonstrate an exceptional record of academic growth and a commitment to service to others.

The news was announced to Black Alliance members at their meeting last Thursday, Aug. 12.

“Both Georgie and Calvin Goode believed deeply in service to others and education, not only as a pathway to one’s own dreams, but also for the betterment of the whole community,” said Lindsay Love, president of the ASBA Black Alliance. “While they may no longer be with us, they continue to be role models for our youth. Naming this scholarship in their honor is recognition of that and, we hope, will further etch their impact on Arizona’s history.”

Georgie and Calvin Goode both spent their adult lives committed to service and dedicated to advancement of their communities, public education and civil rights, Mr. Goode as Phoenix city councilman for 22 years and as a member of the Phoenix ESD Governing Board and Mrs. Goode as a public school teacher and a member of the governing boards of Phoenix ESD and Phoenix UHSD. Mrs. Goode passed in 2015 and Mr. Goode died in December 2020.

The first Black Alliance Goode Scholarships will be awarded in Spring 2022. Applications will be available in January. Applicants must be a currently enrolled senior in an ASBA member district, Black and planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree at an Arizona postsecondary institution.

Organizations or individuals interested in contributing to the scholarship fund may contact the Arizona School Boards Association.

Also, if you missed the Aug. 12 meeting, the ASBA Black Alliance hosted a discussion with three high school students on their experiences with equity, diversity and inclusion. The Alliance thanks Braylen, Kealon and Rohn for their thoughtful, brave and honest comments and Alliance Vice President Berdetta Hodge for leading the conversation. If you missed it, you can view the discussion here.  Access Passcode: BA!81221

ASAP full day workshop features keynote speaker Gregory Offner and other important session topics

ASBA is excited to announce the first-ever, stand-alone full day workshop for Arizona School Administrative Professionals (ASAP) members Friday, Sept. 24, 8:15 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Attendees will learn about open meeting law, board meeting agendas, ASBA’s new database and so much more. Keynote speaker Gregory Offner, Jr. will inform and entertain while teaching us lessons on disruption, change and resiliency. And we will celebrate the many contributions of administrative professionals to the success of Arizona school districts and students.

View the agenda to learn more about the session topics and presenters. This event is at no cost to ASAP members. Registration is required. Please click here to learn more.

AZEdNews: Where breaking education news breaks first: What would it take to rescind law prohibiting school mask mandates?

With eight public school districts, all three state universities, and Maricopa Community Colleges now requiring face masks in classrooms, what would it take to rescind the recent law prohibiting schools from mandating masks on campus?…read full article

You already trust ASBA on policy, now let us translate into an employee handbook

ASBA offers a model employee handbook to cover district employees’ terms and conditions of employment. The purpose of an employee handbook is to advise employees of important aspects of the district’s unique culture and organizational mission. It serves to communicate conditions of employment, conduct and behavior.

It outlines organizational expectations along with aspects of compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. The handbook provides employees with guidance regarding specific questions that may arise as a member of the staff. This helps defend against employment claims presented to the district, aid in organization and consistency in the workforce and provide for a common need to be informed and be a productive member of the team. 

Learn more about ASBA employee handbook services.

Meet ASBA’s Mohave County Director, Roger Jacks

Newly elected board members share how Journey program has helped navigate first year of board service

Last year, ASBA rolled out a two-year program to provide an opportunity for newly elected and appointed board members to connect with one another through a number of different activities. “Journey 2021-2022” includes new members only Lunch and Learn webinars, stories from school board service videos delivered to their email inbox and Let’s Connect events at specific conferences sponsored by ASBA throughout the year. 

We asked board member participants to share how the “Journey Program” has helped them in their new roles and navigate the first two years of board service and beyond.  Hear what Jeff Fortney from Cave Creek USD had to say about the program.

Register for the 2021-22 events and lunch and learn webinars in September and November.

September 27, 2021: Member’s Choice: The Most Requested Topics
November 29, 2021: Ask the Experts: An Interactive Conversation

ASBA Events and Webinars

September 8- 10, 2021: ASBA 45th Annual Law Conference

September 11, 2021: 2021 Delegate Assembly

September 21 – November 4, 2021: ASBA (Virtual) County Meetings 2021

Upcoming ASBA Webinars

September 27, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch and Learn Webinar: The Do’s and Don’ts of School District Ballot Issues

November 29, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch and Learn Webinar: Ask the Experts: An Interactive Conversation

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.

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