From working closely with the community to support the success of public education, to overseeing the district superintendent, to attending trainings to encourage constant growth, Texas school board members volunteer countless hours to ensure students have the best schools possible. To honor the more than 7,200 locally elected trustees in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has declared January School Board Recognition Month. The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) is joining the celebration by encouraging the community to show appreciation to these men and women.

“In communities across the state, dedicated school board members willingly step forward to tackle serious issues, like addressing the needs of school communities during a pandemic, and deal with financial uncertainties while receiving no pay in order to provide excellent educational experiences for all children,” said James B. Crow, TASB executive director. “We urge communities to join us in applauding their service.”

School districts across Texas will be honoring their local school board members this month with celebrations, student-written thank-you notes, and certificates of appreciation. The community can join in by writing their local school board members and by sharing appreciation using #SchoolBoardMonth on Twitter and Instagram.

“This year has brought the indispensable value of education into sharp focus as school districts across Texas continue to dedicate time and resources to ensure Texas students receive the best education possible regardless of the circumstances,” said Abbott in his proclamation. “While school districts will always face new challenges as they serve the needs of students, Texans can count on their school board members, along with other dedicated school officials, to weather these trials, create opportunities to discuss important issues, develop innovative solutions, and empower educators while remaining focused on their students’ futures.”

TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local Texas school boards. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 5.4 million public school students. To learn more about School Board Recognition Month, visit sbrm.tasb.org.