About

September 27-28, 2019 | Chicago, Illinois 

Latinos represent the second largest population group in the nation, making the future prosperity of our communities and the country intrinsically tied to the academic success of Latino students.  To bolster the academic achievement of students, it is imperative that school board members work in partnership with their district leadership to establish a vision of shared values, sustain a clear balance of roles and responsibilities, serve as strong stewards of their district’s fiscal resources, monitor the academic progress of their students, and build collaborative relationships to positively lead their school districts toward their mission and goals.  

The NALEO National Policy Institute on School Governance brought together governing board members from throughout the country to acquire strategies that will help them utilize innovative and successful policies and best practices to support student success.  Participants had an opportunity to network with their peers and hear from leading experts who shared their knowledge on pressing policy matters and governance strategies.  The Policy Institute’s curriculum included: 

  • The State of Our Students 
  • Governing Roles and Responsibilities 
  • Fiscal Responsibilities and Budgeting 101 
  • Leveraging the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to support  Early Childhood Education
  • Leveraging Data for Effective Policymaking
  • K-14 Partnerships: Equipping Students for Post-Secondary Education and the Workforce 

 

This convening is part of the NALEO Education Leadership Initiative (NELI) which aims to provide Latino public servants with the enhanced capacity and governance skills they need to become effective advocates for their students, families, and communities.  

Sponsors

Foundation Partners 

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 

W.K. Kellogg Foundation 

Schedule

  • Friday, September 27
  • Saturday, September 28

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.  

State Room Foyer, Second Level 

Registration

 

 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Gold Room, Second Level 

Breakfast

 

 

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Gold Room, Second Level 

Welcome Remarks

 

 

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Gold Room, Second Level 

Session I:

Joint Plenary: The State of Our Students  

Over the last two decades, the Latino student population across all levels of education has grown.  With this growth, education leaders have the opportunity to address and reduce achievement gaps.  Policymakers can create sound policies that support the success of Latino students across the education pipeline through in-depth knowledge of the state of Latino students, barriers to success, and indicators of progress.  In this session, participants received an overview of areas of strength and opportunities for growth in Latino student achievement. 

  • Dr. Lynn Jennings,  Senior Director of National and State Partnerships, The Education Trust
  • Mr. Sergio Lopez, Senior Associate of National and State Partnerships, The Education Trust  

Resources: 1 2

 

 

11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

State Room, Second Level 

Session II:

Governing Roles and Responsibilities 

School board members must clearly understand their governing roles and responsibilities so they can focus on facilitating a cohesive governing board that is centered on student achievement.  The ability to create the conditions in which collaborative problem-solving can take place is critical in this current age of accountability and continuous improvement.  This session equipped participants with best practices utilized by high-functioning boards so that school board members can be effective leaders for their districts and the families and students they serve. 

  • Mr. AJ Crabill, Deputy Commissioner of Governance, Texas Education Agency

Presentation

  • Hon. Debra Guerrero, Board Secretary, San Antonio Independent School District, Texas

Presentation

  • Mr. Pedro Martinez, Superintendent, San Antonio Independent School District, Texas  

 

  

12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Gold Room, Second Level 

Luncheon Program:

Preparing Schools and Communities for the 2020 Census  

  • Mr. Arturo Vargas, Chief Executive Officer, NALEO Educational Fund
  • Ms. Lizette Escobedo, Director of National Census Program, NALEO Educational Fund 

 

 

2:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

State Room, Second Level 

Session III:
Fiscal Responsibilities and Budgeting 101  

A core responsibility of school boards is to approve and adopt the district’s annual budget.  As financial stewards, school board members can better serve the needs of their students and meet their school district goals when they align the district’s budget with their vision of student achievement and educational priorities.  This session equipped participants with tips and tools in education finance to ensure that they are meeting accountability and transparency standards set by federal and state policy.  Participants were led through a facilitative discussion and interactive activity to practice budget strategies, resource allocation, decision making, and financial communication techniques.    

  • Dr. Marguerite Roza, Director, Edunomics Lab,  Georgetown University

Presentation

 

 

4:45 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

State Room, Second Level 

Evaluations

 

 

4:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

State Room, Second Level  

Closing Remarks

 

 

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

Rouge Room, Lobby Level 

Opening Reception

Foundation Partners: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation 

Opening Reception Donor:  American Federation of Teachers