COSSBA’s Inaugural Urban Boards Alliance Symposium

This past week I had the honor as president of the Florida School Board Association (FSBA) to help represent Florida’s delegation at the inaugural Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA)’s Urban Boards Alliance (UBA) Symposium.

This was my first time representing Florida at this level and being able to learn and collaborate with local education leaders from across the country. UBA provides many resources to help further support school board members in creating educational strategies and sharing best practices that address and improve the educational outcomes of students within challenging environments.

This conference was additionally special because less than a year ago COSSBA and UBA did not exist. Florida and several other states after years of challenges with another national organization left that organization and unified with a number of other states in the creation of COSSBA. The expectation from Florida and other states was to create a truly nonpartisan student-focused organization that supports school board members from across the country. COSSBA now includes nearly 23 state school board organizations and continues to gain additional states. It’s why my heart was so warmed when on the last day I sat with two school board members from different states who had attended the same type of events with the other organization, they shared how far more appropriate this organization, its focus, and its nonpartisan approach is. They expressed how this event was focused on students’ needs and student outcomes and how we as board members can best continue to meet the needs of our students and families.

Florida was represented by a small but powerful delegation led by UBA founder Dr. Steve Gallon, Miami Dade school board member and vice chairman. In addition, President-Elect Tina Certain, Federal Committee Chairperson, Bev Slough, FSBA CEO, Andrea Messina, Duval Board Members Warren A. Jones, Lori Hershey and me attended. Dr. Gallon is always a powerful and eloquent speaker and presenter. Whether you are shaking your head in an affirmation or he is causing you to reflect cannot help but respect him and his work.

While at the UBA symposium we gained important resources to address student achievement barriers, student mental health, and other areas of current interest and need among school leaders. Thank you to UBA leadership for their work putting together this important event.

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