Chilton County Board of Education member Ann Thomas is among 254 school board members statewide being honored this month for advancing to a new level in the Alabama Association of School Boards’ (AASB) School Board Member Academy.

Thomas has advanced to Level II in the academy, an accomplishment that requires 50 training hours to reach.

She will be recognized during the AASB annual Summer Conference in Orange Beach from July 29-31.

The education leaders are being honored for their efforts to improve their boardmanship skills, increase their understanding of education issues and heighten their leadership skills by participating in the academy.

The academy, an ongoing “school for school board members” founded in 1986, has four achievement levels based on the number of credit hours board members can earn by attending conferences and workshops in eight key areas: 1) roles and responsibilities, 2) policy and planning, 3) financial accountability, 4) the optimal learning environment, 5) academic achievement, 6) staff development, 7) board meetings and school law, and 8) community engagement.

Board members who complete the academy’s four levels and continue their commitment to training can earn the distinction of Master School Board Member.

AASB’s academy years runs from July 1 to June 30.

The year’s academy training courses covered such topics as fiscal accountability, school climate, student achievement, wellness, communication, vision/planning, technology and decision-making.

AASB represents all of the state’s local school boards.

Founded in 1949, AASB serves education leaders and the interests of local lay control of public education and provides members with a wide array of services, including boardmanship training seminars, insurance programs, information services and policy research.

– from staff reports