Special to Atmore News
Local school board members from southwest Alabama were among the honorees at the Alabama Association of School Boards’ awards luncheon held Dec. 6 at The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa. More than 400 education leaders attended the conference, Dec. 5-7.
In all, 28 local school board members in AAAS District 1 – included in 295 school board members statewide – were recognized for advancing in the School Board Member Academy, AASB’s training program for school board members. The education leaders were honored for their commitment to ongoing professional development to deepen their understanding of education issues and strengthen their boardmanship and leadership skills.
AASB has nine geographic districts. District 1 includes the school boards of Baldwin County, Brewton, Chickasaw, Clarke County, Conecuh County, Escambia County, Gulf Shores, Mobile County, Monroe County, Orange Beach, Saraland, Satsuma, Thomasville and Washington County, as well as ACCEL Day and Evening Academy and the Alabama School of Math and Science.
“AASB celebrates these dedicated members for their commitment to strengthening their leadership through AASB’s School Board Member Academy,” AASB Executive Director Sally Smith said. “Their dedication to professional growth and excellence sets a powerful example of service and passion for advancing public education.”
Below are the District 1 board members who achieved new levels during the School Board Member Academy’s 2023-2024 training year, which began July 1, 2023, and ended June 30, 2024.
Level IV (requires 100 training hours and all eight core cores in the Academy)
- Loumeek White, Escambia County
Master (requires Level IV plus 15 hours, including one additional core course) - Sherry Digmon, Escambia County, fifth time
About the AASB School Board Member Academy
Founded in 1986, AASB’s School Board Member Academy includes four achievement levels based on the number of credit hours board members earn through conferences, workshops and other training events. There are eight core courses: Roles & Responsibilities, Leadership for Policy & Planning, Leadership for Financial Accountability, Leadership for Positive Climate & Culture; Leadership for Academic Achievement, Leadership for Developing a Highly Effective Staff; Effective Boards & Relationships and Leadership for Community Engagement. Board members who complete the core courses and the Academy’s four levels can continue their training to earn the Master School Board Member distinction and ultimately an opportunity to attain Master Honor Roll recognition.
AASB’s Academy year runs July 1 to June 30. The Academy helps board members comply with the School Board Governance Improvement Act of 2012, which requires new board members take orientation and all board members earn at least six hours of annual training. Two of those six hours must be earned from training completed as a whole school board (with at least the majority of the school board in attendance).