We believe in saying "THANK YOU" and "JOB WELL DONE!" KASB has a number of award programs to acknowledge all of the hard work of individuals in your organization. Use these opportunities to express appreciation and to inspire others to excel.
January 2021: School Board Recognition Month!
This is a great time to focus on the crucial role an elected board of education plays in our communities and schools. They are extraordinary people who voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing school districts. Their actions and decisions affect the present and future lives of our children.
Plan now to show your school board members you appreciate their dedication and hard work.
Use the resources in this Google Drive Folder to serve as jumping off points to honor your school board. And be sure to use the hashtag #ThankBOE on your posts and tweets so we can share!
Leadership Academy Awards
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.
(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
Award Plaques
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.
Please contact KASB for details
Sheryl Fincham
FAX 785.273.7580
EMAIL: Sfincham@kasb.org
Scholarships and Awards
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:
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:
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.
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:
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: