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Kalamazoo County School Board Members Honored Including Parchment Board Member Nancy Lenz

Posted: March 21, 2012
Source: Jennifer Rogers
Job Title: MASB
Phone: 517.327.5908

Six Kalamazoo County school board members earned awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) for their efforts to improve their leadership skills, demonstrating their commitment to student achievement and their own continuous improvement. Awards are earned for classes completed in MASB's leadership training program, as well as for conference attendance, years of service and leadership activities.

School board members operate in a complex, ever-changing environment that requires they stay abreast of trends and issues facing public schools. One way they're able to keep pace with the fast-moving changes is to participate in training and professional development. In fact, last year more than 1,000 school board members statewide participated in MASB's professional development program for elected school leaders. Collectively, school board members spent about 7,000 hours attending board training courses in the traditional classroom setting, and another 864 hours in the online setting. These hours are above and beyond the time members spend at their local meetings, events, reviewing policies and board packets.

"I've worked with school boards and public schools for more than 15 years and am always in awe at the commitment of so many members. The time they spend being servant leaders and honing their skills are second to none," said MASB Executive Director Kathy Hayes. "Schools are under exceptional pressure to be innovative and reinvent the way they deliver education. Training equips them with the tools necessary to make the best decisions for Michigan's school children."

To achieve Level 1 and become "certified," board members receive 30 hours of classroom training in subjects ranging from school law and finance to community and labor relations. Higher levels of recognition require even more coursework, service and leadership responsibilities.

Special recognition is also given to boards of education when all members within the same board complete different levels. Board members can also receive advanced specialties in advocacy and data. MASB's Certified Boardmember Awards (CBA) honors members for seven levels of achievement and advanced specialties.

Levels of Certification/Awards
Level 1 - Certified Board Member Award: Nine 100-level CBA classes
Level 2 - Award of Merit: Level 1 plus 45 education credits
Level 3 - Award of Distinction: Levels 1 and 2, four advanced level CBA classes and 208 education credits
Level 4 - Master Board Member: Levels 1-3, nine advanced level CBA classes and 368 education credits
Level 5 - Master Diamond: Levels 1-4, 14 advanced level classes and 528 education credits
Level 6 - Master Platinum: Levels 1-5, 19 advanced level classes and 813 education credits
Level 7 - President's Award of Recognition: Levels 1-6, 29 advanced level classes and 1,383 education credits
Advocacy Skills Specialty - Level 1 and six advanced level communications classes
Data Specialty - Level 1 and six advanced level data classes

Kalamazoo County Certified Board Member Awards (CBA)

Parchment School District
Nancy J. Lenz, Master Diamond Award

Portage Public Schools
Randy Van Antwerp, Level 1 Certification
Robert Snyder, Level 1 Certification
Russell Rathburn, Level 1 Certification

Kalamazoo RESA
Delores G. Myers, Master Platinum Award
David W. Webster, President's Award of Recognition

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