W
hat do you recall about
Rasmussen Grabavoy, Sue Ickes,
on the many ways IASB members can
your transition from regu-
Carla Joiner-Herrod, Bill Marvin,
connect with decision-makers. Read
lar human being to a school board
James McCabe, Erica Nelson, David
“Advocacy depends on building rela-
member?
Price, Lori Price, Amy Reynolds, and
tionships,” starting on page 16, and
Many of you reading this are in
Marc Tepper. Together they bring
join us in wishing Cynthia the best.
your first days of school board ser-
136 years of board service to their
In closing, here’s a quote from
vice and finding it overwhelming.
advice. Some are decades removed
Erica Nelson, a survey respondent,
For this issue of The Illinois School
from their first days, and some offer
Board Journal we enlisted sever-
relatively fresh perspectives.
“I wish I had known more about how critical it is to learn
al veteran board members to share
A l l school b oa rd memb er s
the focus of our work ... take the
their wisdom about “What to expect
should take heed as attorney Scott
professional development offered
the first year,” and the consensus is
F. Uhler presents the question “Is
and insights from veteran board
that it would be unusual to not be
your smartphone still yours?” on
members. This work is focused
overwhelmed. Trust that you are not
page 12. The answers to that question
on the always-changing world
alone, that it becomes manageable,
explain why school board members
of education. We have to edu-
and that school board members are
need to be mindful of the law before
cate ourselves on the growth
always willing to help each other out.
discussing public business on per-
and changes in how children
sonal electronic devices.
learn and what will help them
As you read “What to expect the first year,” starting on page 6,
Also in this issue of the Journal,
be ready for the next steps they
you’ll discover an impressive array
we continue the discussion of the
take. ... We respect the taxpayers
of perspectives, but with the same
teacher shortage. It’s a nationwide
and the community contributions
core truths about joining the world
problem, the impacts of which are
to the schools and need to edu-
of school board members. I had the
evident in school districts through-
cate community members who
pleasure of conversing with several
out Illinois. We recall the Illinois
have not been into our schools
of the respondents, and their sen-
perspective on the lack of successful
to see the differences and varied
sitivity to those first overwhelming
candidates in “From rigor to reality,
opportunities that our students
moments, appreciation of the role
revisited,” by McKendree University’s
have and must have to learn.”
of the school board member, under-
James Rosborg, starting on page 21.
It’s a measure of how we can help
standing of the learning curve, and
We congratulate IASB Director
newcomers adjust to, and outsiders
practical wisdom is apparent in every
of Advocacy Cynthia Woods, a former
understand, the world of school
answer.
board member, who is retiring from
board service. If you have advice to
I of fer my thank s to the
the Association this summer. Before
add, feel free to let us know.
respondents: Sharon Archie-Dav-
she left, she was kind enough to write
enport, Greg Bachelor, Gianina
a farewell commentary on her career,
Baker, Kellie O’Leary Call, Cynthia
on the importance of advocacy, and
— Theresa Kelly Gegen, Editor tgegen@iasb.com