Join us for two days of professional development for Virginia School Board Members! This training summit is designed to equip advocates for conservative values in education and is packed with 5 plenary and 6 break breakout sessions that will inform and equip you.

Not only is this event loaded with meaningful training, it is also located just 20 minutes north of Richmond, includes 3 delicious meals and ample snacks, and includes time for fellowship and networking. Lodging available separately for those who need it.

COST

$300.

This expense should be able to be covered by your board budget.

Leadership. Administration. Politics. These, and more, are required in the role of being a good school board member. The role can be complex, but certain simplicities lie at the heart of the job and being effective in its mission. Discovering them, and staying the course, is central to success. This course will explore the required balance between the complexities and simplicities of the job.

Board members. Administrators. Faculty and staff. Students and their families. How do these converge and how can you as a board member help facilitate good policy and processes that become embraced by and beneficial to all, while fulfilling your organization’s mission? In this session, you will get insight from experienced and successful educators who have witnessed dynamic leadership in their schools.

In today’s sometimes contentious environment, boards can struggle with the challenges of meeting agendas and allowing all stakeholders voice into the policies and practices of the district. Where are the lines that define good board practice and free speech? With an increase in legal suits over this matter, it is important to know what rights the First Amendment guarantees. In this session, you will be introduced to some foundational concepts of the First Amendment.

This session will explore the various roles and duties of local school boards in Virginia as defined by Virginia codes, with a focus on the top ten listed in 22.1–79. We will delve into the responsibilities of school boards, which extend far beyond just hiring the Superintendent and signing the budget. We will discuss a few of the Standards of Quality (SOQ) that specifically mandate oversight responsibilities. As school boards are ultimately accountable for local school divisions, it is important to have a clear understanding of your powers and duties as a school board member.

Our society and our schools are challenged by the realities of a growing mental health crisis. This is increasingly evidenced in our youth. How does DEI integrate with the problem and what policies do you as a school board member need to support or avoid in the best interest of your students? This session will introduce you to information that can help you sort through the issues with greater clarity.

A proper understanding of civics and social studies is essential to forming a healthy and sustainable society. It becomes part of the framework through which a student forms their understanding of community, value, justice, and opportunity. At a time when politics are driving division through culture wars, what vision do we have for our students and communities? This session will address some of the challenges and opportunities of curriculum and policy.

A significant responsibility of every school board member is that of proposing, reviewing, and voting on policy. Whether it is a new proposal or a long-standing policy, having clear framework for assessment is important to determining intended and unintended consequences of a policy. This session is designed to help you form an assessment framework.

Board members are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring adequate funding for our schools. Most citizens strongly support that. But taxpayers also want to be assured that budgets are not bloated, and that waste is not tolerated. In this session you will hear from a diverse panel who will share their experience and help you know where to look and what questions to ask in the budget planning and review process.

Everyone knows that the Virginia State Legislature can pass policies and budgets that help or hurt our schools. But does everyone know the best ways to engage legislators to help them know the realities and needs in our schools? In this session you will hear from past and present members of the Virginia state legislature to better understand how policy is influenced and made, and how you can be a voice for your constituents.

A significant challenge of every school board is that of teacher shortages, meeting licensing requirements, and attracting and keeping good employees. What are the real issues and how can you rise above them in your district? In this session, a panel of educational professionals will share their experience and insight into real problems and possible solutions.

Whether transgender policy is an issue you are dealing with in your district or not, it is one you need to be prepared for. It is your responsibility to protect every student and give guidance to your administration and staff. The panelists in this session will speak to the transgender question from the perspective of the condition and the interest of parents, school personnel, and policy considerations.

For more information about our all star presenters click below.