This month on The President’s Gavel, we’re revisiting a popular session from this year's Leadership in Education Event: “Critical Thinking Through Media Literacy.” In this episode, you'll learn about media literacy and why understanding it is crucial for anyone involved in educating students today.

Our guests will share why it is more important than ever to help children think critically about what they see and hear via the media they consume. We'll also discuss how we can empower students to thrive in today's media landscape.

Host
Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guests
Dr. Michael J. Doughty, Assistant Superintendent, Northeastern Regional Information Center, Capital Region BOCES
Katherine Hammill, Director, Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center, Ulster BOCES

Resources
Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

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Agendas are the roadmap for board meeting. They help the board president keep discussions focused and on track, while clearly outlining the topics to be addressed and the actions to be taken. In this episode of the President’s Gavel Jamie, Mark and Darci answer commonly asked questions and discuss best practices for setting the agenda.

Host
Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Guests
Darci D’Ercole, Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA
Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Resources

• Standard Order of Business
• Consent Agenda
• Sample Board Activity-Presentation Calendar

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School boards may seem local and low-profile, but they’re at the heart of today’s biggest battles over education, governance and democracy. In this episode, we discuss why school boards matter more than ever—and how they can help rebuild trust, strengthen schools and model civil discourse in a divided time.

Host
Darci D’Ercole Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA

Guest
Scott Levy Adjunct Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education Author, Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of Education and Democracy Byram Hills Central School District Board of Education

Resources
Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. 

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With reorganization meetings just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about electing your board president. In this episode of President’s Gavel, Mark highlights what leadership skills matter most at the board table and shares five characteristics of a successful president.

Host
Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager

Resources
• Superintendent and Board Self-Evaluation Tools
• SuperEval

To learn more about NYSSBA’s Board Officers’ Forum, contact [email protected]. To learn more about SuperEval contact Bob Hartz at 1-844-312-EVAL (3825). 

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School board elections just happened. Is your board prepared to onboard new members? An effective onboarding process benefits new members by helping them acclimate quickly while avoiding common pitfalls that can strain relations. Through a proactive plan, boards can support their new members while building trust, collaboration and unity on the governance team. This enables them to focus better on advancing positive student outcomes without unnecessary distractions.

Host
Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Guest
Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Resources

• NYSSBA’s FAQ: Onboarding New Board Members Guide
• Onboarding Checklist
• On Board article - Developing an effective onboarding process
• On Board article - The importance of welcoming new school board members
• NYSSBA’s FAQ: Onboarding New Board Members Guide
• Onboarding Checklist

Need help developing your board operations handbook? Request a Custom Board Retreat here.

For more information about NYSSBA’s Custom Board Retreats contact [email protected]. 

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In this episode, we discuss the ex officio student board member. While about one-third of New York school boards already include student representatives, new legislation mandates that all public-school districts and BOCES include a student member on their school board. Meeting this goal takes more than just a seat at the table – it requires good faith, mutual respect and a genuine partnership. That’s what we’re here to explore in this episode: how to fully embrace the ex officio student board member role in ways that empower students, strengthen board decisions and enrich the experience for everyone through deeper civic engagement and inclusive leadership.

Host
Darci D’Ercole, Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA

Guests
David Lilleck, Superintendent, Orchard Park Central School District
Luke Lippitt, Ex Officio Student Board Member, Orchard Park Central School District and Northeast Vice President of the National Student Board Member Association
Zachary Patterson, Chair of the Board of Advisors, National Student Board Member Association

Resources

• NYSSBA’s Ex Officio Student Board Member Implementation Resources webpage
• National Student Board Member Association

Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. 

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A growing body of research suggests that smartphones, social media and messaging apps are fueling the adolescent mental health crisis. In response, New York introduced legislation prohibiting the use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day. Bethlehem Central School District has already implemented a smartphone-free policy. In this episode, we’ll hear their story and learn how board members can develop and adopt a successful policy in their district.

Host
Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Guests
Jody Monroe, Superintendent, Bethlehem Central School District
Holly M. Dellenbaugh, Board President Bethlehem Central School District

Resources
Resources for this episode were provided by the Bethlehem Central School District.

Bethlehem CSD BOE Presentations:
• Yondr, 3/15/23
• Yondr Update, 5/3/23
• Yondr Student Assemblies

• Bethlehem CSD Policy 5310 Mobile Devices in Grades K-12
• Bethlehem CSD Mobile Phone Exemption Request
• Bethlehem CSD How’s It Going Video

• 2017-cognitive-load-theory-practice-guide
• 2018_Book_TechnologyAndAdolescentMentalHealth
• Phones at School Are a Disaster - The Atlantic
• Schools are banning cellphones as students are more distracted than ever - The Washington Post

Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. 

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One primary responsibility of school boards is to advocate for all students and their districts. You may be wondering, what does advocacy look like for school boards? What should I be doing? Or how can I get more involved in advocacy efforts? Today we address these questions and provide an overview of the board’s role and responsibilities in advocacy, and we’ll learn how you can help to inform and influence NYSSBA’s advocacy platform.

Host
Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guest
Caroline Bobick, Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations, NYSSBA

Resources

• Advocacy Overview
• On Board article: The importance of recognizing and celebrating success
• NYSSBA’s Advocacy Liaison brochure
• NYSSBA’s 2025-2026 Executive Budget Policy Recommendations
• NYSSBA’s 2025-2026 Executive Budget Fiscal Recommendations
• NYSSBA’s 2025 Position Statements
• NYSSBA’s 2025 Legislative Priorities

Contact NYSSBA’s Governance Relations Staff: 518.783.0200  

Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. 

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On this episode of the President's Gavel Podcast, it's all about communication. We'll discuss navigating difficult conversations and maintaining a strong relationship with the Margaretville Central School's board president and superintendent. Join your NYSSBA hosts as they lead Board President Doris Warner and Superintendent Michelle Osterhoudt through a conversation about how they effectively work together through the easy and not-so-easy times.

Hosts
Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA
Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guests
Michelle Osterhoudt, Superintendent, Margaretville Central School District
Doris Warner, Board President, Margaretville Central School District

Resources (NYSSBA On Board Articles)

• 7 Ways to build the board-superintendent relationship
• 10 ways your board can communicate better
• Establishing a strong board-superintendent relationship
• For better board-supt. relations, clarify
• How to have a difficult conversation
• Moving from conflict to consensus
• Understanding the board-superintendent relationship

Schedule your Custom Board Retreat today!

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Improvement in student mental health depends on prevention and the use of universal screening. During this episode, we discuss the effective use of the Multi-tiered system of support, which many of us know about, as well as the importance of leadership on making real improvements, what interventions are necessary at the district level to be successful, and how screening, monitoring and evaluation of student data becomes critical in addressing mental health challenges in our schools and in supporting improved student outcomes.

Host
Darci D’Ercole, Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Guests
Dr. James McDougal, Director of the School Psychology Program, State University of New York at Oswego
Dr. Donna J. DeSiato, Superintendent, East Syracuse-Minoa CSD
Eric Knuth, Superintendent, Skaneateles CSD

Resources
Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. 

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