Why school boards should have experienced teachers among the fold.

Teachers on school board benefits link to article

Key benefits of experienced teachers on a school board:

• Insider knowledge:Since I have worked in a variety of rolls within education and have experienced challenges and successes in the classroom, I can provide valuable insights into what works and what doesn't for students, which can be crucial for policy development and budget planning. 

• Advocacy for teacher needs:Teachers on the board can advocate for better working conditions, reasonable workloads, and adequate resources to support effective teaching. Supporting teachers is cyclical and ends up benefitting all stakeholders- students, parents and other community members. 

• Improved communication:Having a teacher representative on the board can facilitate better communication between the administration and the teaching staff, leading to more collaborative decision-making thus improving teacher retention. If the teachers know why a policy decision is made, their support is more easily garnered. Trust is key here. 

• Student-centered focus:Teachers on the board can prioritize student needs and ensure that policies align with the best interests of student learning aka “Best Practices”. 

• Real-world perspective:Teachers can provide practical feedback on proposed initiatives, ensuring they are feasible and adaptable to classroom settings. Sometimes blanket decisions are made without time for teacher input. With a person who has first hand-experience on a school board, this mishap can be avoided.  

• Community engagement:Teacher representation on the board can foster stronger relationships between the school district and the wider community. 

• Flipping the Cons: 

• Potential conflicts of interest?:While some might think that having people with teaching experience on the board might prioritize teacher interests over broader district needs this is not necessarily true. As a retired teacher, parent of two students who went through the district and as a taxpayer, my perspective will not be myopic but rather broad. 

• Tunnel Vision Perspective?:A single teacher's experience may not represent the diverse needs of all teachers within a district; however, I have had experience in many different areas in education so my perspective will not be limited.  Plus, I am an excellent listener and plan to listen more than talk. 

• Political pressures:Teachers on the board may face pressure from different factions within the community, potentially impacting their decision-making; however, I am a strong believer that school boards are not political. We serve all that attend the schools. Students come from all walks of life, and families with a variety of political beliefs. This diversity mimics that of a community.