A great teacher, we all know, can change the course of a child’s life. The same is true of school board members, as well. They have a different role, but the choices school board members make can help their district’s students reach their potential.

So, how does that happen? The work of a school board to deliver a quality education to all children is called governance, and that's the focus of this month's episode.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards has created a new framework to help school board members understand quality governance. It’s called the “Essential Elements of Governance,” and it goes into detail about the five crucial areas that research suggests school boards should focus on.

We talk to two people here at the WASB, both former Wisconsin superintendents, who had a hand in creating this framework. Ben Niehaus is director of member services for the WASB, and Fran Finco is a governance and search consultant. You can see a graphic describing this framework here.

We’ll talk about why we made this framework, what its parts are and how you can learn more about how to put it into practice.

If you want to learn more, register for a Spring Workshop, held at six locations throughout Wisconsin from May 9-23. Learn more and register at the event website.

We will also discuss governance topics at the 2023 Summer Leadership Institute, held July 14-15 in Green Bay. The event website has details.

When a school district can’t find a licensed educator, they may hire an unlicensed person with certain conditions. This is commonly referred to as an emergency license, and they also can be used by counselors, social workers, librarians and school administrators.

The number of these licenses has nearly tripled in the past decade, prompting the Wisconsin Policy Forum to investigate. 

This episode features a conversation with the researcher who looked into this issue. These licenses aren't necessarily a problem, but they could signal deeper issues. We talk about the kinds of questions school board members should ask about emergency licenses. 

In addition, a new group of Wisconsin school board members sill soon take office. The WASB hosts New School Board Member Gatherings in April, and we talk to Member Services Director Ben Niehaus about why these complimentary meetings are worthwhile for new members.

Learn more about these meetings at the event webpage.

Wisconsin lawmakers are creating the next two-year budget. It will have a major impact on the opportunities school districts can offer their students.

This month, we hear from the WASB government relations team — Dan Rossmiller and Chris Kulow — about what’s happening in Madison and how education leaders can contribute to the conversation.

We’ll start by getting you caught up on the budget essentials so you can have informed discussions with decision makers.

We’ll also talk about our Day at the Capitol. Held March 22, it’s a chance for school board members and administrators around Wisconsin to meet with their legislators in Madison. We make it easy by organizing meetings with your local lawmaker.

To learn more, visit our Legislative Advocacy Tips and State Budget pages.  

The 102nd State Education Convention is over, and we’re hoping attendees will be thinking and talking about it for months.

This month, we’re sharing two speeches from the convention.

First, we’ll hear from Governor Tony Evers, who made his 38th appearance at the convention.

After that, we hear from State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Jill Underly.

The text of both speeches will be published in the March issue of Wisconsin School News.

It’s getting more and more difficult to find and keep referees for youth sports. And without refs, kids can’t play.

Today, we talk to two women who are at the center of Wisconsin's effort to recruit and retain these officials. They are Kate Peterson Abiad, assistant director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, and Ashley Ingish, a physical education and health teacher and head volleyball coach at Waterford High School.

We talk about what’s behind this phenomenon and how an effort to train young officials in the classroom is one element of the WIAA’s plan to meet the challenge. Ashley will also be sharing what she’s learned at the State Education Convention. Look for her booth in the Exhibit Hall’s School Fair.

Have you ever struggled to persuade colleagues to see things your way? Has your hand ever hovered over the "send" key after you finish a difficult email? Or maybe you've been challenged to find the right words with a fellow school board member. 

Sarita Maybin may be able to help.

She’s an author, expert on communications and the Thursday keynote speaker at the 2023 Wisconsin State Education Convention.

In today's episode, we talk about working better together. Sarita breaks it down into concrete tips that can make a difference in your professional life, including the work place and school board.

You can learn more about Sarita and other keynote speakers on our convention website. You can also find an excerpt of her book in the December issue of Wisconsin School News.

David Horsager believes that successful people, companies, schools and other institutions have one thing in common: they’re trusted. And when they struggle, he believes a lack of trust is usually the root cause.

He’s the keynote speaker for the first general session of the 2023 State Education Convention. Registration opens Nov. 1.

In this episode, we discuss how to build trust every day, how to show appreciation and the role of trust in the superintendent-board relationship.

The 2022 Trust Outlook, which we discuss, is available here.

Every fall, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards travels around the state to provide an update to members and give them an opportunity to share a meal.

Fall Regional Meetings are once again underway. This month’s episode is a mini-regional meeting in podcast form. We’ll start by taking a few minutes with our executive director, John Ashley, to talk about fall colors, supper clubs, member visits and other reasons these events are special for him.

Legislative updates have long been part of regional meetings. We’ll also hear a legislative update — including a peak into discussions around the next two-year state budget — from government relations staff Dan Rossmiller and Chris Kulow.

Finally, before each Fall Regional Meeting a WASB attorney will lead a workshop on running effective board meetings. We’ll hear from Associate Executive Director and Staff Counsel Bob Butler about why that’s an important topic and give you some tips to bring to your board.

Visit our website to learn more about Fall Regional Meetings and Fall Advocacy Workshops.

Plenty of students want to serve as educators. But they face challenges, not the least of which include negative reactions from their friends and family.

A Mauston teacher is working toward a solution. She's encouraging students to pursue education careers through Educators Rising, a national group that guides young people on a path from high school through college and into their teaching careers.

In this episode, we speak with Leah Luke, the Wisconsin coordinator for Educators Rising, and Erin, a recent Mauston graduate and Educators Rising member, about encouraging students to explore education careers. We’ll talk about the role of board members in helping solve the teacher shortage, as well as how to start an Educators Rising chapter in your district.

If you’d like to contact Leah Luke about starting an Educators Rising chapter, you can reach out to her at [email protected].

School boards spend a lot of time continuously improving their school district. But they may not devote as much time to understanding their own strengths and weaknesses. 

In this episode we discuss the Annual Board Development Tool with Shelley Burns, board president at Mequon-Thiensville, and Rob DeMeuse, research director at School Perceptions. The complimentary online survey is designed to help boards identify their areas of strength as well as where further discussion is needed. 

Read more about the Annual Board Development tool to find out how to get started at your district.