School Board Academies
State Law mandates that school board members attend training. State Board of Education Rules and Regulations require that every board member participate in seven hours of training annually. TSBA provides the training for the five core modules: Board/Superintendent Relations, Advocating the Board’s Vision, Board Policy and Operations, School Finance, and School Law. Planning, Teaming, and four online modules are offered by request.
2018-19 School Board Academy Catalog
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Orientation
Register Online
Objective:
To provide an overview of the roles, responsibilities and legal duties of school board members.Special Consideration:
Board members who assumed office after January 1, 2017, are required to attend the orientation session before June 30, 2018.Description:
This session is designed to meet the needs of new board members. Through active participation in this session, you learn the do’s and don’ts of effective boardsmanship.Major topics covered during the session include:
• Education’s Governance Structure
• Basics of Boardsmanship
• Finance
• Promotion of the School System
• Board Policies
• Planning
• School Law
• Board/Superintendent Relations
• Board/Staff Relations
• Board/Student Relations
• Hot Topics Facing School BoardsOctober 8-9, 2018: TSBA Headquarters – Agenda
December 6-7, 2018: TSBA Headquarters – Agenda
January 10-11, 2019: TSBA Headquarters – Agenda
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Board/Superintendent Relations
Register Online
Objective:
To provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the school board and the superintendent.Description:
This session focuses on ways to select a superintendent, build the board/superintendent team, and evaluate the performance of the superintendent. During the course of the meeting, you have the opportunity to look closely at both roles and learn more about interrelationships and independence — two essential elements for successful and productive relations. Participants will also review the elements of a superintendent contract.Major topics covered during this session include:
• Job Descriptions of Board Members/Superintendent
• Roles and Expectations of Superintendent/Board
• Superintendent Selection
• Employment Contract
• Team Development
• Superintendent Performance Evaluation
• Code of EthicsMarch 13, 2018: Knoxville – Embassy Suites Knoxville West
March 16, 2018: TSBA Headquarters
March 20, 2018: Memphis – Hilton MemphisPresenters:
Paul Bennett Dale Lynch -
Advocating The Board's Vision
Register Online
Objective:
To explore the board’s role in creating a vision for excellence for all students and in building public support to achieve the vision.Description:
In this session, participants engage in discussion to learn what vision is, how it is created and the critical components it must include. Board members discover how to build public support from all stakeholders for their school district vision, mission and goals. During this session, participants will see the connection between standards of excellence in all areas of the school operation and the vision that they set as a school board. They will also learn how to use data to assess needs, set goals and determine priorities for the school system.Major topics covered during this session include:
• Exercising Board Leadership Through the Vision Process
• Why Boards Need to Have a Vision
• What Vision Is – What Vision Does – What Kills Vision
• Role of the Board and Superintendent in the Vision and Planning Process
• TN Succeeds: Equity, Expectations and Pathways
• Vision of Students Today
• Global Challenges Facing Students
• Translating Vision into Action
• Using Data to Assess Needs and Setting Goals
• Building Stakeholder Support for the Vision
• Working with the Media
• Board’s Role as a Creator of Public Opinion
April 19, 2018: Johnson City – Carnegie Hotel
April 24, 2018: Jackson – DoubleTree Jackson
April 27, 2018: TSBA Headquarters & Via Distant Learning – Lauderdale County & McMinn County
Presenters:
Dr. Tammy Grissom Dr. Sharon Roberts -
Board Policy and Operations
Register Online
Objective:
To provide an overview of the responsibilities of the board and superintendent in board operations and policy development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.Description:
This session focuses on the importance of school board policy to school board operations. Board members have the opportunity to view a mock school board meeting and participate in an interactive exercise that analyzes portions of the meeting.Major topics covered during this session include:
• The Structure of Policy
• Policy Development
• Policy Review and Revision
• Administrative Procedures
• Policy Oversight
• Board Leadership Through Policy
May 15, 2018: Knoxville – Embassy Suites Knoxville West
May 18, 2018: TSBA Headquarters
May 22, 2018: Jackson – DoubleTree Jackson
Presenters:
Ben Torres Jennifer White -
The Board's Role in School Finance
Register Online
Objective:
To provide an overview of the board’s role in developing the school budget.Description:
In this session, board members will learn their role in the budget process and how it relates to the board’s mission and vision for the school systemMajor topics covered during this session include:
• History of School Finance
• Overview of the BEP
• Local Revenue and Federal Funds
• Budget Process
• How to Reach a Budget Document
• Factors Affecting a Budget
• Building Support for the Budget
May 31, 2018: Jackson – DoubleTree Jackson
June 14, 2018: Johnson City – Carnegie Hotel
June 18, 2018: TSBA Headquarters
Presenters:
Chris Henson Robert Greene -
School Law
Register Online
Objective:
To determine the legalities that govern the school board.Description:
School board members must be familiar with the legal issues that affect policy. In this session,
participants review the legal duties of the school board and the Tennessee Sunshine Law.Major topics covered during the session include:
• Powers and Duties of School Boards
• Student Discipline
• Liability Issues
• Students’ Rights
• Employment Issues
• Collaborative Conferencing
• Open Meetings/Open Records
• Charter Schools
• Ethics
June 7, 2018: Knoxville – Embassy Suites Knoxville West
June 12, 2018: Jackson – DoubleTree Jackson
June 15, 2018: TSBA Headquarters
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Planning: A Joint Venture
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Teaming and the School Board
Contact TSBA at registrar@tsba.net or call 615-815-3901 to schedule the Planning: A Joint Venture module.
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eBoardsmanship
Register Online
Objective:
- To provide a Boardsmanship Profile to board members.
- To offer recommendations to increase knowledge and skills in key areas.
- To determine the effectiveness of the School Board Academy Modules.
Description:This assessment module is a way for board members, the Tennessee Department of Education, and TSBA to work hand in hand to determine if the modules are taught in a way that is helpful and memorable to you. This tool identifies your areas of expertise and provides suggestions for obtaining additional information in areas that can help you, as a board member, to grow professionally.
- To provide a Boardmanship Profile to board members
- To offer recommendations to increase knowledge and skills in key areas
- To determine the effectiveness of the School Board Academy Core Modules
Special Considerations:- Board members must have access to a pc computer with internet connectivity.
- Board members should complete all basic core modules first, but it is not required.
TSBA will provide a web-based “eBoardsmanship” module and you will work through the four sections of the module:
- Board Game
- Mini-Scenarios
- Structured Situational Analysis
- Video Clips
Once you have completed the four sections online, your responses will be tabulated and the results provided to you online in a Boardsmanship Profile that identifies your expertise in each of the Modules. The profile includes an explanation of scores as well as suggestions and ideas to help you further develop your knowledge and skills. Verification of completion will be sent to TSBA.
This module can only be taken once.
To register for this event, please click on the button below.
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Connecting Education and Jobs (Online Course)
Register Online
Objective:
To provide boards with the current state of the schools-to-jobs pipeline; describe state and regional initiatives to increase relevance and opportunities for students; and provide solutions for strengthening connections between education and jobs in your region.
Description:
The Southern Growth Policies Board’s 2013 Report on the Future of the South offers insight into the changing economy and what it means for today’s workforce. Authors note that as globalization and competition increase, the presence of skilled labor has become a major deciding factor for businesses looking to expand. As to the skills employers are seeking – they are changing as well. There is an increasing demand for industry credentials, which stands in contrast with traditional measures of educational attainment such as course credits and seat time. Ultimately, these changing criteria have led to a mismatch between what many students learn in school and the skills that will allow them to secure well-paying jobs later on. Battelle for Kids developed this learning walk to help shed light on these challenges and opportunities, as well as current efforts across the state to address skills gaps and prepare students for college and careers.Once you have completed the module, you must submit the “Step-Three – Reflect and Synthesize” culmination activity to the TSBA Registrar at registrar@tsba.net.
Special Considerations:
- Board members must have access to a computer with internet connectivity.
This module can only be taken once.
To register for this online course, please click on the button below.
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Strategic Compensation (Online Course)
Register Online
Objective:
To provide a strategy for boards to improve their ability to recruit and retain the best educators to
ensure students develop the skills needed to succeed in college and on the job.Special Considerations:
• Board members must have access to a computer with internet connectivity.
• Board members must have completed all basic core modules.Description:
This online module focuses on a strategy gaining considerable traction nationally and that is the practice of redesigning compensation systems to reflect local needs and give school districts the flexibility needed to attract top talent. This learning walk, developed by Battelle for Kids (BFK), offers an overview of this strategy – including its history and context, current research, and implementation considerations.Once you have completed the module, you must submit the “Step Three – Reflect and Synthesize” culminating activity to the TSBA Registrar at registrar@tsba.net.
*Individually scheduled by request. This module can only be taken once.*
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Legal Issues Impacting School Boards (Online Course)
Register Online
Objective:
To provide board members with a basic understanding of key school law issues and keep board members up to date on the most current developments in school law so they will have the information they need to make sound reasonable decisions.Description:
This online module consists of seven separate modules each covering a different school law issue. The modules may be completed as a group or may be done on an individual basis however to receive school board academy credit, all modules must be completed during the 2016-2017 fiscal year.The modules include:
• Open Meetings & Open Records
• Parliamentary Procedure
• Employee Rights and Relations
• Ethical Guidelines for School Board Members
• Legislative Advocacy and the School Board
• The Bill of Rights and its Impact on School Districts
• The Board-Superintendent Relationship
Special Considerations:
• Board members must have access to a computer with internet connectivity.This module can only be taken once.
To register for this online course, please click on the button below.
