Trustees’ Work Requires Balance and Forward Thinking

Sailing was my passion growing up. I fondly remember trips to the Texas Gulf Coast, where I was taught to navigate a 14-foot Sunfish sailboat through the waters of Little Bay in Rockport. I quickly learned the importance of the center keel to keep the tiny vessel stable and from toppling over, the sail to provide forward movement, and the tiller and rudder to control direction.

Serving as a school board trustee is much like sailing. To be most effective, we learn to navigate our important work to ensure the best education is available for our students through balance, forward thinking, and sound direction.

A new year has begun and the 89th Texas Legislature is underway. I’m remind­ed of a line from Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea, “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.”

As our lawmakers file bills, promote agendas, and debate the merits of their positions, we as advocates for public schoolchildren will be doing what we can with what there is. And what there is includes incredible and moving stories of student successes as well as challenges for districts across Texas. As we tout our achievements, we must also share with our legislators the impacts of proposed legislation on our students, our teachers, and our local communities.

We Are All Advocates

And we will. The State Board of Education’s Framework for School Board Development includes a critical area of focus for school boards, which is to rec­ognize the respective roles of and provide input and feedback to the Legislature, SBOE, and the Texas Education Agency to ensure maximum effectiveness and benefits to Texas schoolchildren.

As part of our advocacy work, we have a wonderful opportunity to meet in Austin on Feb. 18 for the TASA | TASB Legislative Conference. This free event will provide attendees with updates on legislative activity and proposed bills.

The day begins with presentations from key legislators and others and con­cludes with afternoon visits to the offices of our state representatives and senators, where we can share our legislative priorities.

If you are a newly elected trustee, the Capitol visit can be a bit intimidating, so partner with others from your region and schedule your visit together. Plan to share information on the impacts of proposed legislation on your district and communi­ty. If you have questions about the confer­ence or how to schedule and prepare for the Capitol visits, contact TASB Govern­mental Relations at tasbgr@tasb.org.

Talking to Lawmakers

In our work, we often get the oppor­tunity to talk to local and state leaders about public education. It’s incumbent upon us to advocate for public education to these key stakeholders. But I also be­lieve it’s important to ask your lawmakers how you can be of help to them in the work they are doing to best serve public schools. To establish meaningful and im­pactful relationships with your legislators, seek common ground and model civility. Become a trusted community resource in their decision making.

A group of engaged trustees and school leaders recently attended the Texas Federal Advocacy Conference in Wash­ington, D.C. The conference featured in­fluential speakers and educational panels. Attendees also met with legislators at the U.S. Capitol.

TASB Training in 2025

Here at TASB, the new year starts the all-important cycle of providing training opportunities for trustees, beginning with Governance Camp: Powered by Student Voice. Held March 5-8, this event is where governance, leadership, and student voice all come together. Set against the beautiful Galveston coastline, board members and superintendents will attend keynotes and sessions that provide tools and knowledge to steer your district forward. The student-led presentations and demonstrations are a Camp highlight, and the Student Voice Scholarship panel is a learning opportunity trustees will not want to miss.

As mentioned in my inaugural column, a primary goal of mine is to attend area association meetings to share information on the many services TASB offers you as trustees and your district’s operations teams and learn how TASB can better serve these vital roles.

I am excited to be attending my first area association meeting in North Texas. I appreciate the invitation from Julie Cole, a Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD trustee, North Texas Area Association of School Boards member, and TASB Director.

And I look forward to more opportu­nities to attend area association/coalition meetings across this great state of Texas. Let’s learn and grow together to best serve our future leaders — our students.