LEADERSHIP
Leadership Matters: Innovation is hope in action
As we celebrate this year’s Magna Award winners and the program’s focus on innovation and creating healthier schools for our students, we are reminded that school boards are uniquely positioned to push their schools to evolve to meet the needs of students in a changing world, writes NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. “Innovation is about building upon strong foundations to create even better opportunities for every learner,” she adds.
President's Perspective: School boards are champions for student success
As he reflects on his past year serving as the 77th president of NSBA, Devin Sheehan says he does so with deep gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose: “This role has taken me across the country, into boardrooms, classrooms, and communities of every size and demographic. In each setting, one truth has remained constant: Local school board members are among the most important champions for student success in America.”
FEATURES
The 2026 Magna Awards
Showcasing district efforts to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency for students and staff.
Civics Education Strengthens Democracy
The current state of civics education is troubling, but some districts are advancing civics learning for their students.
Reimagining School Food
School meal programs increase participation by paying attention to what students need at mealtime.
Deeper Learning and Educational Screen Time
School boards can lead the way to adopting healthier forms of student engagement.
NSBA Annual Conference Highlights
Speakers with diverse experiences set to address school board members in San Antonio.
TRENDS
Districts and leaders recognized for digital learning innovations
Book Review: The Future of Tutoring—Lessons From 10,000 School District Tutoring Initiatives
Q&A with Education Policy Historian Diane Ravitch
URBAN ADVOCATE
Leading with Vision and Resilience
In an era of rapid social and technological change, urban boards are the primary defenders of the promise of public education.
SOUNDBOARD
Promoting Systemic Coherence
What high-quality instructional materials in math look like in practice.
A Defining Leadership Test
School leaders owe it to their LGBTQ+ students to make their schools safe places.
An Unfunded IDEA
After 50 years, federal special education legislation continues its financial and legal impact on school districts.
ONLINE ONLY
The Road to 7-0: How Radical Transparency Unified a Divided Board.
Ready or Not: Superintendent Preparation