School Board Member of The Year Award

Each nominee is evaluated on the impact of his or her service to public education initiatives. The outstanding service and contributions performed must have significantly benefitted his or her school district community. Servant leadership is highly valued, and the nominee’s public image and character will be of paramount consideration, as well.  

• Nominations Close: Aug. 29, 2023, at 5 p.m.
• Recipient Selected: Sept. 5, 2023
• Recipient Notified: No later than Sept. 12, 2023
• Video Production: October and November 2023
• Award Presentation: Dec. 7, 2023

Nominations will be accepted from individuals representing any area of Arizona education including, but not limited to, board members, administrators, teachers, volunteers, support staff, staff of education nonprofits, and elected and appointed office holders. Nominations must be submitted on the official entry form and received by the deadline. (Nominations not selected do not rollover for consideration from year to year.

To nominate a school board member please fill out the gravity form to completion when it is available.

The ASBA Board of Directors selects the recipient at its September meeting. The Board of Directors is composed of five executive officers that make up the Executive Committee, and 17 County Directors – one for each county in Arizona, with two for Pima and Maricopa Counties due to their higher populations. The chairs of the ASBA Hispanic-Native American Indian Caucus and the ASBA Black Caucus also serve on the board of directors.   

The nominator and selected recipient will be notified Sept. 12, 2023.  

The Barbara Robey ASBA School Board Member of the Year Award will be presented on the first day of the ASBA-ASA Annual Conference, which is held in December at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix. The recipient, nominee and their guests will be invited.  

A video honoring the recipient will be produced by ASBA staff. It will be shown during the award presentation and shared via ASBA communication platforms and with the media. 

Please contact Kristi Sisk in the office of the executive director at ksisk@azsba.org or 602-254-1100.

• 2022 – James Love 
• 2021 – Linda Yazzie
• 2020 – Dr. Timothy L. Ogle 
• 2019 – Tim Carter
• 2018 – Mike Hughes
• 2017 – Governor Jane Dee Hull
• 2016 – Jack Peterson
• 2015 – Doreen Zannis
• 2014 – Cindy Matus Morris
• 2013 – Carolyn Warner
• 2012 – Eddie Basha Jr.
• 2011 – Ruth Solomon, former legislator and educator, and member of governing board of Pima County JTED
• 2010 – Dr. Chuck Essigs, Director of Governmental Relations, AASBO
• 2009 – Charlotte Upham Patterson, Governing Board Member, Chandler Unified School District
• 2008 – Jeretta Douglas, Longtime Governing Board Member, Flowing Wells Unified School District, Tucson
• 2007 – Barbara Robey, 20-year Governing Board Member, Litchfield Elementary School District; Former Director of Governmental Relations, ASBA

The award honors Barbara Robey, who, for more than three decades, was a servant leader and advocate for Arizona public education and the children of our state as director of governmental relations for ASBA and through her long and respected history of public service, both as a school board member and the mayor of Litchfield Park, Ariz. In 2007, Mrs. Robey became the first recipient of the award. She passed away in 2014.