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.
March 23, 2026
The theme of the April issue of ASBJ is innovation, and we are honoring districts and school leaders who are thinking differently and creating new ways for their students to succeed.
NSBA’s Magna Awards program has for more than 30 years been recognizing districts for their creative solutions to challenges. This year, we are showcasing districts working on plans to improve the indoor air quality in their buildings, which will boost student scores and improve student and teacher health and attendance.
Within the pages of this magazine, you also will read about the winners of the 2025 Innovative Technology Integration Awards. Co-sponsored by NSBA and the Center for Digital Education, the awards recognize K-12 school districts and leaders advancing learning, operations, and equity through the strategic, responsible use of technology—including AI, data, and digital systems—at scale.
Now in its second year, the program expanded in 2025 with the launch of the inaugural Leadership in Education and Digital Innovation (LEAD) Awards. This new category recognizes the critical role of leadership in translating emerging technologies into sustained, districtwide practice.
School boards are uniquely positioned to push their schools to evolve to meet the needs of students in a changing world. Innovation is about building upon strong foundations to create even better opportunities for every learner.
Innovation, at its heart, is hope in action. It reflects a belief that schools can continually improve, that student success can increase, and that new solutions can unlock new pathways for learning. When school boards embrace innovative and creative solutions, they send a powerful message to educators, students, and community members: We believe in progress, and we believe in you.
Our students are growing up in a time of remarkable transformation. New careers are emerging. New challenges are reshaping our communities. New technologies are redefining how we live and work. Preparing students for this future means ensuring their education is not only grounded in strong academic fundamentals, but also rich in adaptability, creativity, and real-world relevance.
When boards clearly articulate what they want graduates to know and be able to do—whether that includes critical thinking, career readiness, civic engagement, or collaboration—they open the door for new approaches that bring that vision to life.
That vision grows through a culture that welcomes learning and exploration. Innovation thrives where there is trust — trust in educators to try new strategies, trust in data to guide improvement, and trust in the process of continuous growth. When boards support pilot programs and new initiatives, they create space for progress while ensuring accountability.
Academic achievement will always matter deeply. But today’s world also values resilience, communication, and problem-solving. By recognizing these outcomes as part of student success, boards encourage schools to develop learning experiences that prepare students for life, not just tests.
By embracing innovation, school boards affirm a simple but powerful belief: We create the future of public education together.
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In partnership with the National AI Academy, we are excited to offer the AI Smart Certification for K-12 education leaders. This certification offers essential, practical knowledge about how AI is shaping public education, supporting school leaders in making informed, strategic decisions about technology integration, policy, and governance.
Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Esq. (ceo@nsba.org) is NSBA’s executive director and CEO and the publisher of American School Board Journal.