Linn-Mar Honors Leaders During School Board Recognition Month

The Iowa Association of School Boards has designated May as School Board Recognition Month, this year recognizing their work in ‘Leading Through Uncharted Waters.’ As citizen leaders, Linn-Mar district board members face complex and demanding challenges. Yet few people fully understand the scope and far-reaching implications of board members’ responsibilities.

All Iowa citizens should recognize the vital contributions of these elected officials and focus attention on the crucial role they play in the education of our children.

Over the past year, leadership at the board table has come with challenges and decisions no one could have anticipated. School boards have made tough choices that impact the health and safety of students, staff the school community, while continuing to prioritize student achievement and educational equity.

School board members come from all walks of life.  Although they wear many hats in the work day world, school board members put on a collective hat when they get down to the business and innovation of charting the course for their school district. Board members must pull together as a team toward a universal goal—helping students achieve their potential.

The seven members of the Linn-Mar board establish a vision for the education program, design a structure to achieve that vision, ensure schools are accountable to the community, strongly advocate continuous improvement in student learning, and create a positive atmosphere for the entire district.

To accomplish these goals, board members contribute thousands of hours each year leading their districts. Whether it be crafting policies, hiring administrators, listening to staff and student concerns, or advocating with legislators, board members always keep their eyes on the goal of student achievement.

The time spent in board meetings represents just a small fraction of the hours that school board members spend leading in their districts. They attend seminars and training sessions to keep current on the latest trends in educational leadership; are deeply involved in community and school activities, and read and study countless reports, agendas, proposals, and other information to guide difficult decisions.

Their love for learning and their commitment to the students, staff, and the communities served by the Linn-Mar district drive board members’ desire to help students set sail.

Join us in saying ‘thank you’ to Sondra Nelson, Cara Lausen, Barry Buchholz, Tim Isenberg, Brittania Morey, Rachel Wall, and Clark Weaver for leading Iowa’s next generation through uncharted waters and recognizing their efforts throughout the year.