M aking a difference in children s lives is the primary goal of any school board member.
Seeing advancement in student achievement, parent participation in schools, and positive community involvement are just a few of the ways board members can measure their school system s success. But these achievements don t come easy. The composition of members on a school board can determine the failure or success of a system. I soon realized that I had to be a team player. My experiences have led to the following lessons, which I share with you in the spirit of encouraging you to either take the leap yourself, or at least to help you understand from the perspective of the board members, who will rely upon your information as they form the decisions that determine how effective the schools you work in will be.