The CUBE logo and moto

The Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) supports excellence in urban school board leadership. As part of its mission, CUBE creates educational opportunities for urban school board leaders to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as effective local education policymakers and as advocates for equity in public education.

Committed to addressing the educational challenges that exist in our nation’s urban centers, CUBE helps school boards close the student achievement gap and provide all students equal opportunity to receive a high-quality education, focusing on meeting the needs of our nation’s historically underrepresented and underserved students.

Learn more about the membership benefits of CUBE.

To join CUBE, fill out and submit the interest form. An NSBA staff member will contact you to confirm your information and affiliation status.

Fill Out the CUBE Interest Form

 

 Announcements and News

Press Releases
Dec. 9, 2022 Philadelphia School Board President and Seattle Public Schools Receive Awards at CUBE 2022 Annual Conference
Dec. 17, 2021 NSBA's Council of Urban Boards of Education Announces New Leadership
April 6, 2021 NSBA Announces CUBE 2021-2022 Leadership
Sept. 15, 2020  Virginia School Boards Association President Winner of 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award 
Sept. 15, 2020  Shelby County Schools Winner of the CUBE Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence 
April 8, 2020 Council of Urban Boards of Education Announces 2020-2021 Leadership 
Publications
Sept. 2019  
The Opportunity to Increase Equity: A Guide ESSA Title IV, Part A
August 2020  Increasing Equity and Achievement by Empowering Students
June 2020    Urban Advocate: Eyes on Our Children
June 2020    Urban Advocate: Can a Crisis Lead to Equitable Access? 
Important Dates
August 26, 2020  Webinar: Equity, Access & Student Agency


Enjoy these highlights from past CUBE annual conferences. 

Multimedia

Awards

The Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a school board member who demonstrates a longstanding commitment to improving educational outcomes in urban districts.

The CUBE Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence is given to a school district that demonstrates excellence in school board performance, academic improvement, educational equity, and community engagement.

Learn more about both awards on the CUBE Awards page. Learn more about past recipients below.

 

Joyce Wilkerson (middle) poses with the award with Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington (left), CUBE Chair Micah Ali (right), and her colleagues on the Philadelphia school board.

Philadelphia School Board President and Seattle Public Schools Receive Awards at CUBE 2022 Annual Conference

On December 9, Joyce Wilkerson, School Board President of the School District of Philadelphia, received the 2022 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to representing the educational needs of urban schoolchildren through their service as a local school board member. Additionally, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) received the 2022 Award for Urban School Excellence.

two group photos of school board members

CUBE Celebrates Excellence in Board Leadership

CUBE's Urban School Board Excellence Award Goes to Shelby County Schools in Memphis, Tennessee, and Richland One in Columbia, South Carolina.

rodney jordan smiles at the camera in a portrait photograph

Virginia School Boards Association President Winner of 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award

NSBA's Council of Urban Boards of Education has recognized Rodney Jordan's commitment to representing the students of Virginia's Norfolk Public Schools by awarding him the 2020 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award.

a group picture of the shelby county school board with a student

Shelby County Schools Winner of the CUBE Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence

NSBA's Council of Urban Boards of Education has recognized Tennessee’s Shelby County Schools and their exceptional leadership by awarding the board the 2020 Award for Urban School Board Excellence.

The Hillsborough county public school board members smile at the camera

Florida’s Hillsborough County School District Winner of 2019 Urban School Board Excellence Award

NSBA recognizes Hillsborough County, the eighth-largest school district in America, with the Award for the Urban School Board Excellence for their outstanding school board governance, academic improvement, educational equity and community engagement.

A portrait of Deena Hayes

Guilford County North Carolina School Board Member Winner of 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

Deena A. Hayes, Chairwoman of North Carolina’s Guilford County Board of Education, is the winner of the 2019 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award.

one of the three districts receives the CUBE excellence award

Jennings, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Fort Worth Independent School Districts Receive Urban School Board Excellence Awards

Created in 2004, the Award for Urban School Board Excellence recognizes school boards that exhibit excellence in school board governance, academic improvement, educational equity, and community engagement. Each winning school district will be featured in future articles in the Urban Advocate, CUBE’s quarterly feature in ASBJ Magazine, as well as highlighted at future CUBE conferences.

the recipient of the cube lifetime award speaks at the podium

Portsmouth School Board Member Winner of Lifetime Achievement Award

NSBA's Council of Urban Boards of Education CUBE is pleased to announce Cardell C. Patillo, Jr., board member and Finance Chair of the Portsmouth, Virginia School Board, winner of the 2018 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award. The Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who, through their service as a local school board member, has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to representing the educational needs of urban schoolchildren.

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