Congratulations Class of 2014

More than two decades ago, NJSBA created its Board Member Academy (BMA) to provide training for local board of education members and for entire boards.

Each year, the Academy offers statewide and regional programs, designed to provide advanced skill development, to help members build their knowledge base and become more successful school leaders.

Board members can earn the designations of Certificated Board Member, Master Board Member, and Certified Board Leader. Boards may also earn the designations of Board Certification, Board Recertification, and Master Board Certification.

This year, several boards and individuals were honored at county school boards association meetings for their BMA certification achievements.

Board Certifications

Local school boards that wish to improve their boardsmanship can undertake additional training as a group through NJSBA. There are three levels of certification available: Board Certification, Board Recertification and the Carole E. Larsen Master Board Certification.

Boards earn certification by having NJSBA staff conduct programs designed especially for them.

To earn Board Certification, a board must complete 18 credits within a three-year period. The board must participate in at least one full-day retreat or the equivalent in board workshops and verify through an NJSBA Policy Wellness Check that the board’s policy manual is up-to-date with current regulation and law. Through NJSBA’s Labor Relations Department, the board must also complete an analysis of the district’s union contract. In addition, to be considered, the district must demonstrate board effectiveness through the board self-evaluation and the New Jersey Department of Education monitoring process. Board Recertification requires that a certified board earn an additional 12 credits, and complete the other requirements of board certification.

The Carole E. Larsen Master Board Certification is awarded in recognition of high-performing boards. The board must provide evidence to demonstrate an emphasis on student achievement in their board actions. To earn this level of certification, a currently certified or recertified board must complete at least 10 additional hours of training for a total of 28 board credits. As with the other designations, the board must verify through an NJSBA Policy Wellness Check that the board’s policy manual is up-to-date with current regulation and law, and the board must complete an analysis of the district’s union contract through  NJSBA’s labor relations department. In addition, to be considered, the district must demonstrate board effectiveness through the board self-evaluation and the New Jersey  Department of Education monitoring process. Attendance at these sessions must include at least seven out of nine board members, five out of seven, or four of five, and the chief school administrator.

Certified Board Leaders

The highest level of individual certification in NJSBA’s Board Member Academy is Certified Board Leader. To earn this designation, board members must complete extensive training requirements and serve for a minimum of one year in a leadership position on their local board, their county school boards association or the state school boards association. NJSBA’s newest class of Certified Board Leaders includes 19 individuals.

Master Board Members

This year, 68 local board members have earned the Master Board Member (MBM) designation. To achieve the rank of Master Board Member, a person must first obtain the designation of Certificated Board Member and then earn 20 additional credits. The training addresses the issues of leadership; school and community relations; effective meetings; strategic planning; group dynamics; board member ethics; school finance; labor relations; and school law. Candidates must also demonstrate mastery of the core areas.

The Master Board Member builds on the Certified Board Member (CBM) designation. Programs are designed to enhance interpersonal and leadership skills enabling members to better govern the course of education in their schools. To receive the MBM, members must have earned a CBM and 20 additional credits.

Certificated Board Members

NJSBA’s Board Member Academy is a unique certification program designed to deliver high-quality training in all areas of school board responsibility. Courses cover a range of topics including general boardsmanship, governance, leadership, labor relations, policy, and school law.

This year, the ranks of certificated board members has grown by 140.

Congratulations

NJSBA commends all of New Jersey’s board members for their hard work and dedication to the state’s public school students, but extends a resounding congratulations to those who have taken the next step in becoming even more successful school leaders.