17/06/2026
The entire Lamar CISD Board of Trustees traveled to San Antonio, Texas last week to attend TASB Summer Leadership Institute, a 3 day conference for school board members to gain our required CEC's and then some. There were a lot of great sessions, but honestly, the biggest value always comes from talking with people who are doing the same work in different parts of the state. No matter the size of the district, the challenges are surprisingly similar. And a few themes kept coming up over and over again.
For those that don't know, TASB is essentially the trade association for Texas public school boards. They're the only organization in Texas operating at a scale large enough to provide comprehensive governance training, policy support, legal updates, risk management services, board development, and a statewide network for trustees all in a one-stop shop. Some may say they have a monopoly on the situation but competitive associations such as TEE have started to emerge.
For what it's worth, I'll say that you don't have to agree with TASB on everything to recognize the value they provide. In fact, I don't know any trustees who agree with TASB on everything. When a trustee in Lamar CISD encounters a challenge, odds are a trustee in Amarillo, El Paso, Lubbock, Katy, Frisco, or Brownsville has already dealt with it. TASB is often the place where that knowledge gets collected, organized, and shared. Does that mean they're always right? Of course not. They're a large membership organization. Like any large organization, they're going to have positions, priorities, and perspectives that not every member agrees with. But I think it's important to separate: "I disagree with them on some things." from "They provide no value." because those are very different statements. My responsibility is to learn from every credible source available, take what's useful, leave what isn't, and make decisions that are best for Lamar CISD. (i.e...use my God given brain, judgement, and discernment). Okay, I digress! 😄
