More and more, leadership is what “makes all the difference.”

KASB believes you deserve formal recognition for the time and talent you devote to your community’s most important responsibility—public schools!

The demands on school board membrs and school administrators continue to expand as new federal, state and local responsibilities are added. With budgets tighter and public scrutiny sharper, the stakes are higher - but so are the results accomplished by good board members and administrators.

Objectives

• To make available to school board members and administrators, a comprehensive development program that includes opportunities to learn and develop.
• Knowledge and skills needed to operate effectively on a school board and as a school administrator.
• To provide a comprehensive and high quality program.
• To be able to demonstrate that school board members are the best prepared public officials in Kansas.

Board Members and Administrators will receive the following levels of recognition:

(1) Level One Certificate: 25 to 74 points

(2) Level Two Certificate: 75+ points

(3) Platinum Level Certificate: 75+ points in five consecutive years

(4) Whole Board Certificate: 25+ points earned by each board member

(5) Individual recognition

• Attending KASB seminars and convention
• Attending National School Boards Association conferences
• Presenting at KASB Seminars
• Serving on KASB Legislative or Nominating Committee
• Leadership for Tomorrow Participants
• BOLD Participants
• Whole Board Training
• Board Self-Evaluation
• Strategic Planning
• Vision and Goal Setting
• Specific Student Achievement Training

KASB offers an 8'' x 12'' walnut plaque in the shape of the state of Kansas with an engraved gold brass plate.

The engraved plate can be customize with a personalized inscription, including any logo of your choice or the KASB logo. Please note: If sending your logo, send a camera-ready copy of the logo.

The plaque is available for purchase to honor retiring school board members or any district personnel. Orders are accepted year-round.

ORDER DETAILS

Please contact KASB for details

Sheryl Fincham              

FAX 785.273.7580

EMAIL: Sfincham@kasb.org

ORDER FORM 

Public Grants

The Foundation also seeks to acquire local, state, federal, private and/or public grants to further a full range of educational initiatives and projects. This include supporting the mission, beliefs, vision and goals of the Kansas Association of School Boards and assisting local boards of education and related educational entities in their responsibilities to assure a quality public education for all students. Accomplishment of these goals could include:

• Working with local school boards in their efforts to support student learning and achievement;
• Providing and expanding awareness of high quality services and best educational practices;
• Promoting an environment of mutual trust and cooperative efforts with other entities;
• Reviewing and addressing the issues which affect public school governance;
• Developing a variety of opportunities for members and others to communicate and learn about innovative educational programs, practices and issues;
• Expanding and evaluating training for school district leaders, school board members, parents and community members;
• Assisting school boards and school districts to continuously improve the delivery of educational opportunities, programs, processes and procedures; and
• Involving parents, patrons and the community in supporting public education and student achievement.

Scholarship Awards 

The Foundation seeks to award yearly scholarships to recognize and honor an individual school board member (s) to attend the national convention and a local school board (s) to attend KASB’s annual convention. Scholarships will be awarded for attendance at the annual convention by school board member (s) and local school board(s) who have exemplified outstanding leadership by promoting and supporting public education as demonstrated by any of the following:

• Active involvement on any of the KASB member services boards (Worker’s Compensation, Legislative, Nominating) or participation in the KASB Leadership For Tomorrow, McKrel, Whole Board Training or KASB seminars and Regional Meeting opportunities.
• Advocacy and leadership in support of a quality public education and/or student achievement at the local, state board, legislative or congressional levels.

Selection of Recipients Scholarship recipients will be selected by a committee consisting of the current KASB executive director and the executive committee of the KASB Board of Directors with assistance and recommendations from KASB staff and members including the KASB Leadership Academy.

Patricia E. Baker Scholarship

About Pat Baker Patricia E. Baker (1947-2009) served as staff attorney, senior legal counsel and associate executive director/general counsel of the Kansas Association of School Boards for 30 years. She was a champion for public education and a driving force behind the development of the NSBA Council of School Attorneys where she served on the board for 11 years and as chair in 1989-90. She received her J.D. with Dean’s Honors from Washburn University School of Law and served as an adjunct professor of law at Washburn for more than 15 years. Pat’s passion for education law, dedication to the education of others in the profession, and advocacy for public schools and the children they serve will be long remembered. Purpose of the Scholarship To honor Pat’s legacy and her contributions to the field of education law, KASB asked the NSBA Council of School Attorneys (COSA) to partner with the association to administer an annual scholarship in Pat’s name. The scholarship allows a member of COSA who could not normally attend due to financial hardship to attend the annual School Law Seminar. The scholarship fund was started with a generous endowment from KASB, the Baker family and COSA members. The scholarship recipient will be known as the “Baker Fellow” in the year that they receive the award and will receive a complimentary registration and travel assistance so that they can attend the School Law Seminar held in conjunction with NSBA’s Annual Conference and Exposition.  Travel assistance may include: airfare, 2 nights hotel, and reimbursement of actual and reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in compliance with NSBA’s travel reimbursement policy.  Scholarship winners must book travel directly with NSBA. Eligibility and Award Criteria–Eligible individuals:

1. Must be an attorney representing public school districts and a member in good standing with their state attorneys’ council and COSA
2. Must submit a complete application for the scholarship to COSA by the appropriate deadline
3. Must demonstrate financial hardship, i.e. they could not otherwise attend the School Law Seminar
4. Must demonstrate a passion for school law and the development of the profession
5. Must demonstrate a commitment to “excellent and equity” for  public school children and be an advocate for public education
6. Must demonstrate professional leadership

John W. Koepke School Boards and Quality Public Education Foundation

John W. Koepke retired June 30, 2010, as the executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards, Topeka, Kansas. He began his 40 year affiliation with the association in 1970 as the publications director, and soon assumed additional duties as part of lobbying and advocacy. In 1979 he was promoted to assistant executive director, then associate executive director in 1982 before his appointment to the role of executive director in August 1983. During his tenure as the chief executive officer for KASB there were vast changes in the role of local school boards, and equally considerable changes in the operation of KASB. Under John’s direction KASB successfully expanded its mission to provide relevant services to school board members and administrators in the state.  The John W. Koepke School Boards and Quality Public Education Foundation was established by the Kansas Association of School Boards to honor John’s many contributions to Kansas public education. The Koepke Foundation The Foundation was formed to recognize individual school board member(s) and a school board(s) who have demonstrated leadership at the local, state or federal level as evidence by:

• A significant contribution to develop community support for the critical role of public education;
• Improving student achievement;
• Strengthening professional development to support public education, school board member training and development, the role of school boards, and school leadership
• Engaging the public, parents and community in school improvement;
• Aiding, fostering and promoting the development of the role of public schools and public education in preserving and promoting democracy;
• Individual or group activities to support a quality public education at the local, state and federal level and the work of local school boards;
• Leadership and service to school boards, public education and/or the Kansas Association of School Boards as demonstrated by committee work, attendance at KASB seminars, regional meetings, FRN, conventions, public policy committees, nominating committee, whole board training, McRel, Leadership for Tomorrow, workers compensation board and/or advocating for public education.