The National School Boards Association (NSBA) recently appointed new members to its Board of Directors: Steve Corona, a school board member of Fort Wayne Community Schools in Indiana, and Matthew Russell Showalter, a school board member of Shepherd Public Schools & the Gratiot-Isabella Regional Educational Service District (GI RESD) in Michigan.

“Steve and Matthew have been on the front lines in their school districts, working to ensure that students and school staff have the resources and support they need to learn safely during this pandemic,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Dr. John Heim. “I’m delighted to welcome them to the NSBA Board of Directors. I look forward to working with them to serve our state school board association members, support local school boards, and ensure that each student has the resources and support they need to succeed.”

“I am honored to be chosen by my fellow central region states to represent them on the NSBA Board of Directors,” said Showalter. “I will use the knowledge garnered from my service with other board members on the Shepherd and GI RESD boards, as well as the Michigan Association of School Boards, to strive for equity and excellence in public education throughout our great nation.”

“I am well aware of the important decisions the NSBA Board of Directors must make and make quickly,” said Corona, who is serving his 41st consecutive year on the Fort Wayne Community Schools board, the longest tenure in the history of his district. “I am ready to offer my thoughts and listen to my colleagues express their concerns and possible solutions to the issues before us.”

Corona also serves as second vice president on the Board of Directors for the Indiana School Boards Association and has served on the NSBA Board on two previous occasions —once as chair of the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) and again during a two-year term as chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of school board members.