By CSBA President Albert Gonzalez Serving as a board of education member is a process of constant learning. Even in my 16 years as a trustee, I am still refining my practice and expanding the toolkit I use in this job. One area where I’ve […]
Category: CSBA leadership
President’s message: Authentic preparation for the age of artificial intelligence
By CSBA President Albert Gonzalez As I sat down to write this column, my first as CSBA President, I couldn’t help but consider my upbringing and the path that led me to this point. I never could have imagined myself in this position when I […]
Drafting a governance handbook and self-evaluation: Steps for LEAs
The four steps that Lake Tahoe Unified School District has utilized to create a governance handbook were covered during the session “Governance Handbook and Board Self-Evaluation” at CSBA’s 2023 Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in December. The majority of local educational agency boards have […]
President’s message: It’s all for the children
By Susan Markarian, CSBA President American poet and journalist Carl Sandburg said, “Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.” I relate to this sentiment because the past four decades of my life as a school […]
President’s message: Professional learning and networking shine at AEC
By CSBA President Susan Markarian When I first became a board member 39 years ago, I was encouraged to attend CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show by my board president, Del Cederquist. My first conference was like drinking from a fire hose — a […]
President’s message: Policy and practice over partisanship
By Susan Markarian, CSBA President This month, newly minted graduates across California donned caps and gowns and walked the stage for commencement. The ceremonies closed the book on one chapter of life and signaled new horizons for thousands of our students. I’m sure we all […]
CSBA press conference calls for support for AB 1023 to boost schools’ cybersecurity resources
“Schools have access to more sensitive information and fulfill a more essential purpose than virtually any other local government agency and deserve robust, focused support to prepare for ransomware attacks,” said CSBA President Susan Markarian during a June 26 press conference held in support of […]
The lost art of compromise
By Susan Markarian, CSBA President Phyllis McGinley, a Pulitzer Prize-winning essayist and poet said, “Compromise, if not the spice of life, is its solidity.” Constitutional law expert Alexander Bickel opined that, “No society, certainly not a large and heterogeneous one, can fail in time to […]
Leading from adversity to opportunity
By Dr. Susan Heredia Timing is a curious thing. Nineteen months ago, I received one of the greatest honors of my life, and yet it came amidst the most unwelcome circumstances. As a 22-year veteran of CSBA, I considered myself fortunate to serve an organization […]
CSBA’s Leadership Institute focuses on governing in turbulent times
Preparedness and the ability to lead through challenges was a major theme among keynote and breakout sessions at CSBA’s 2022 Leadership Institute. Local educational agency leaders from across the state converged in Los Angeles July 22–23 to connect on topics including mental health, crisis communications, […]