School board members from across the state gathered in Nashville November 15 to 17 for the 72nd Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) Annual Convention.
Each year during the convention, TSBA recognizes five to seven outstanding school board members as members of the All Tennessee School Board. Sequatchie County School Board Chairman Charlie Rollins was chosen for the 2009 board.
Members are selected by a panel of judges from nominations made by superintendents, school board members, district directors, or TSBA staff. The criteria for being named to the All Tennessee School Board include achievement of the Level IV Boardsmanship Award; a high quality of service with an emphasis on the previous 12 months; participation in board development activities with emphasis on the previous 12 months; specific accomplishments of the local board of education during the nominee’s term on the board; and leadership activities at the local, regional and state level.
Rollins has stood as chairman of the local school board for several years and was the first board member from Sequatchie County to receive his level V, Master Board Member, award last year. Rollins was also the first board member to receive the level IV boardsmanship award.
A total of 19 board members from across the state were awarded for earning their master board member status, including Sequatchie’s Jo-Ann Shepherd.
The award is given for participation in activities outside of local school board obligations. There are five levels of recognition, and Levels I through IV are recognized during Fall District Meetings and those receiving Level V, Master Board Member, are recognized at the annual TSBA convention held each November. Master board members must have earned 250 credits in the appropriate categories and must have received at least 25 out of 30 possible points for their portfolio.
Chairman Rollins noted, during the Fall District Meeting last year, Sequatchie board members Shelli Dodson and Shepherd received their level IV awards and Gregg Johnson received his level one and level two awards.
The Sequatchie County School Board was recognized as a board of distinction at the event. This marks the second time the local school board has been honored with the award, noted Superintendent Johnny Cordell.
The board was awarded based on qualifications set forth by TSBA, including the completion of specific standards in four areas of emphasis within a two-year period. Specific requirements for the award include conducting a superintendent evaluation, developing a five-year plan, participating in a board retreat, conducting an annual review of all board policies, being represented at the TSBA Delegate Assembly, adopting the TSBA Code of Ethics and participating in a board self-evaluation.
The event gave board members a chance to share best practices, discuss changes in public education, and explore ways to improve Tennessee public schools. The Convention, focused on the theme “Empowering Excellence,” featured a Legal Workshop, Community Relations Workshop, special interest sessions and more than 20 clinic sessions designed to provide the latest data and information to those who oversee Tennessee’s public education system.
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen addressed the convention during its November 16 General Session to discuss the future of public education in Tennessee.
Bredesen was followed on stage by former U.S. Senator Bill Frist, Chairman of the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), who announced SCORE will be undertaking six projects next year to implement recommendations from SCORE’s final report, which was released last month. Members of the Tennessee Business Roundtable and the Tennessee Education Association were also present for Frist’s announcement.
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