NYSSBA's President's Gavel Podcast

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how strategic planning can serve as a catalyst for growth and improvement. We’ll look at how it engages diverse stakeholders, fosters transparency and helps school boards make more informed, aligned decisions. We’ll also discuss how setting clear priorities and long-term goals can strengthen governance and drive impactful, system-wide change. Whether your district is just beginning the planning process or looking to revisit and refresh its goals, this episode offers valuable insights on how to turn vision into reality—and build a strong foundation for a successful future. Host: Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guests: Dr. Lance Lohman, Superintendent, Longwood Central School District Victoria Molloy, Board President, Longwood Central School District Need help with your district’s strategic plan? Schedule your Custom Board Retreat today! For more information contact ellen.kramek@nyssba.org. Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

This month on The President’s Gavel, we’re revisiting a popular session from this year's Leadership in Education Event: “Critical Thinking Through Media Literacy.” In this episode, you'll learn about media literacy and why understanding it is crucial for anyone involved in educating students today. Our guests will share why it is more important than ever to help children think critically about what they see and hear via the media they consume. We'll also discuss how we can empower students to thrive in today's media landscape. Host: Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guests: Dr. Michael J. Doughty, Assistant Superintendent, Northeastern Regional Information Center, Capital Region BOCES Katherine Hammill, Director, Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center, Ulster BOCES

Agendas are the roadmap for board meeting. They help the board president keep discussions focused and on track, while clearly outlining the topics to be addressed and the actions to be taken. In this episode of the President’s Gavel Jamie, Mark and Darci answer commonly asked questions and discuss best practices for setting the agenda. Host: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Guests: Darci D’Ercole, Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Standard Order of Business: bit.ly/3FmOSqx Consent Agenda: bit.ly/3hcAzgw Sample Board Activity-Presentation Calendar: bit.ly/3VOoNYL *Stock media provided by www.pond5.com.

School boards may seem local and low-profile, but they’re at the heart of today’s biggest battles over education, governance and democracy. In this episode, we discuss why school boards matter more than ever—and how they can help rebuild trust, strengthen schools and model civil discourse in a divided time. Host: Darci D’Ercole Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA Guest: Scott Levy Adjunct Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education Author, Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of Education and Democracy Byram Hills Central School District Board of Education Member Former President, Westchester Putnam School Boards Association Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of Education and Democracy https://www.amazon.com/Why-School-Boards-Matter-Reclaiming/dp/0262552728 Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

With reorganization meetings just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about electing your board president. In this episode of President’s Gavel, Mark highlights what leadership skills matter most at the board table and shares five characteristics of a successful president. Host: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager Resources / Show Notes: • To learn more about NYSSBA’s Board Officers’ Forum, contact mark.snyder@nyssba.org. • 2025 Board Officers Academy (live virtual and annual pre-convention events): http://bit.ly/3G9ZNZg • Superintendent and Board Self-Evaluation Tools: bit.ly/3OiBBlV • SuperEval: bit.ly/3N2vDo9 • To learn more about SuperEval contact Bob Hartz at 1-844-312-EVAL (3825). • *Stock media provided by Jeppe Reil/Pond5

School board elections just happened. Is your board prepared to onboard new members? An effective onboarding process benefits new members by helping them acclimate quickly while avoiding common pitfalls that can strain relations. Through a proactive plan, boards can support their new members while building trust, collaboration and unity on the governance team. This enables them to focus better on advancing positive student outcomes without unnecessary distractions. Host: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Guest: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Resources: NYSSBA’s FAQ: Onboarding New Board Members Guide: bit.ly/43uFmNT Onboarding Checklist: bit.ly/499Z4j1 NYSSBA’s Onboarding New School Board Members microlearning course. Register here: https://nyssba.my.site.com/s/lt-event?id=a1R1Q00000LoTRrUAN#/Overview On Board article - Developing an effective onboarding process: bit.ly/3xhTvlj On Board article - The importance of welcoming new school board members: bit.ly/3IPwd94 NYSSBA’s FAQ: Onboarding New Board Members Guide: bit.ly/43uFmNT Onboarding Checklist: bit.ly/499Z4j1 Need help developing your board operations handbook? Request a Custom Board Retreat here: bit.ly/30NAX7l For more information about NYSSBA’s Custom Board Retreats contact ellen.kramek@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

In this episode, we discuss the ex officio student board member. While about one-third of New York school boards already include student representatives, new legislation mandates that all public-school districts and BOCES include a student member on their school board. Meeting this goal takes more than just a seat at the table – it requires good faith, mutual respect and a genuine partnership. That’s what we’re here to explore in this episode: how to fully embrace the ex officio student board member role in ways that empower students, strengthen board decisions and enrich the experience for everyone through deeper civic engagement and inclusive leadership. Host: Darci D’Ercole, Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA Guests: David Lilleck, Superintendent, Orchard Park Central School District Luke Lippitt, Ex Officio Student Board Member, Orchard Park Central School District and Northeast Vice President of the National Student Board Member Association Zachary Patterson, Chair of the Board of Advisors, National Student Board Member Association Resources: NYSSBA’s Ex Officio Student Board Member Implementation Resources webpage: https://www.nyssba.org/main/ex-officio-student-board-member-implementation-resources/ National Student Board Member Association: https://www.nsbma.net/ Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

A growing body of research suggests that smartphones, social media and messaging apps are fueling the adolescent mental health crisis. In response, New York introduced legislation prohibiting the use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day. Bethlehem Central School District has already implemented a smartphone-free policy. In this episode, we’ll hear their story and learn how board members can develop and adopt a successful policy in their district. Host: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Guests: Jody Monroe, Superintendent, Bethlehem Central School District Holly M. Dellenbaugh, Board President Bethlehem Central School District Resources for this episode were provided by the Bethlehem Central School District. Bethlehem CSD BOE Presentations: • Yondr, 3/15/23: https://www.nyssba.org/clientuploads/nyssba_pdf/presidents-gavel-podcast/03242025/yondr-03152023-03242025.pdf • Yondr Update, 5/3/23: https://bit.ly/4hGkn02 • Yondr Student Assemblies: https://bit.ly/4iHXA5u Bethlehem CSD Policy 5310 Mobile Devices in Grades K-12: https://bit.ly/4j022MA Bethlehem CSD Mobile Phone Exemption Request: https://bit.ly/4hFSntp Bethlehem CSD How’s It Going Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_lRIIC6tgg Articles: • 2017-cognitive-load-theory-practice-guide: https://bit.ly/4kVzUMj • 2018_Book_TechnologyAndAdolescentMentalHealth: https://bit.ly/41XLJck • Phones at School Are a Disaster - The Atlantic: https://bit.ly/4iEOpTa • Schools are banning cellphones as students are more distracted than ever - The Washington Post: https://bit.ly/42k0xCj • surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory: https://bit.ly/4iPCDVM Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

One primary responsibility of school boards is to advocate for all students and their districts. You may be wondering, what does advocacy look like for school boards? What should I be doing? Or how can I get more involved in advocacy efforts? Today we address these questions and provide an overview of the board’s role and responsibilities in advocacy, and we’ll learn how you can help to inform and influence NYSSBA’s advocacy platform. Host: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guest: Caroline Bobick, Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations, NYSSBA Resources: Contact NYSSBA’s Governance Relations Staff here: https://bit.ly/3Qy6dDd Or call 518.783.0200 Advocacy Overview: https://bit.ly/41gyq67 On Board article: The importance of recognizing and celebrating success: https://bit.ly/4hQ1FnJ NYSSBA’s Advocacy Liaison brochure: https://bit.ly/43848Fv NYSSBA’s 2025-2026 Executive Budget Policy Recommendations: https://bit.ly/4igqnxl NYSSBA’s 2025-2026 Executive Budget Fiscal Recommendations: https://bit.ly/3EWX6cz NYSSBA’s 2025 Position Statements: https://bit.ly/4gYvBwo NYSSBA’s 2025 Legislative Priorities: https://bit.ly/4ieMrs1 Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

On this episode of the President's Gavel Podcast, it's all about communication. We'll discuss navigating difficult conversations and maintaining a strong relationship with the Margaretville Central School's board president and superintendent. Join your NYSSBA hosts as they lead Board President Doris Warner and Superintendent Michelle Osterhoudt through a conversation about how they effectively work together through the easy and not-so-easy times. Hosts: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guests: Michelle Osterhoudt, Superintendent, Margaretville Central School District Doris Warner, Board President, Margaretville Central School District Resources: Schedule your Custom Board Retreat today! bit.ly/30NAX7l On Board Articles: 7 Ways to build the board-superintendent relationship: https://bit.ly/3EdYtDp 10 ways your board can communicate better: https://bit.ly/4h7NolR Establishing a strong board-superintendent relationship: https://bit.ly/3CeAvY7 For better board-supt. relations, clarify: https://bit.ly/4hy4fhm How to have a difficult conversation: https://bit.ly/4hu3F4k Moving from conflict to consensus: bit.ly/4hnxDak Understanding the board-superintendent relationship: bit.ly/3CCsFHE Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

Improvement in student mental health depends on prevention and the use of universal screening. During this episode, we discuss the effective use of the Multi-tiered system of support, which many of us know about, as well as the importance of leadership on making real improvements, what interventions are necessary at the district level to be successful, and how screening, monitoring and evaluation of student data becomes critical in addressing mental health challenges in our schools and in supporting improved student outcomes. Host: Darci D’Ercole, Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Guests: Dr. James McDougal, Director of the School Psychology Program, State University of New York at Oswego, Dr. Donna J. DeSiato, Superintendent, East Syracuse-Minoa CSD, Eric Knuth, Superintendent, Skaneateles CSD Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

In this episode, we’re diving into the role of data in school governance. Whether you’re a new or seasoned board member, asking the right questions when examining data is crucial. It deepens your understanding and supports evidence-based decision-making, ultimately improving outcomes for all students. Discover the essential questions to consider and more in this insightful discussion! Host: Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guest: Lorianne DeForest, Supervisor of Educational Data Services, OCM BOCES Central New York Regional Information Center Resources: NYSED Data Site: https://bit.ly/3YGYBmF Six Steps for School Leaders to Use Data Effectively - Illuminate Education: https://bit.ly/4hlA7Xn What Does it Mean to be a Data-Informed Board? | by Ari Betof | Mission and Data | Medium: https://bit.ly/4hrPVrt Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org. Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

What is the role of the board in setting visionary goals that will impact all aspects of the educational program? In this episode, Mark and Jamie answer this question and more. Host: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guest: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Resources & Show Notes: Custom Board Retreat brochure: https://bit.ly/3MOGp3E *Stock media provided by www.pond5.com.

This month our topic is committee charters. What are they? What are their benefits? And how do school boards go about creating them? Host: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guest: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Resources: Board Committee Charter Overview and Templates: https://bit.ly/3Xkq8cL On Board article (August 2023): How to write a committee charter: https://bit.ly/4cFbxNv NYSSBA FAQ Committees Guide: https://bit.ly/3Z4BpPJ Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

Many of our listeners understand that as an individual board member, board presidents do not have any more additional rights or authority than any other board member, but they do have many more responsibilities. Board presidents have numerous responsibilities that are not limited to what is seen at board meetings. Learn more about why the board president must perform before, during and after the meeting to keep the board informed and functioning at an optimal level. Host: Darci D’Ercole, Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Guest: Anjeanette Emeka, Board of Education President, Saratoga Springs City Schools; Vice President, Adirondack Area School Board Association and NYSSBA Consultant Resources: The School Board President’s Handbook: https://bit.ly/3YjHOGx Onboarding New Board Members Guide: https://bit.ly/3WIlzZJ On Board article: 7 key roles of every board president: https://bit.ly/4dmQUGF On Board article: The role of the school board president: https://bit.ly/4ddjp9M Effective School Board Meeting Guide: https://bit.ly/3yhYUK7 Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

Smart phones have changed the way we communicate and receive information, but having access to this technology has created challenges and distractions for students. The allure of social media notifications, text messages and endless digital entertainment options often proves too potent for students to resist, leading to diminished focus, disrupted learning environments and a decline in academic performance. The effects of cell phone distractions in the classroom and at large impact students’ social and emotional well-being, mental health and ability to stay engaged in learning. Host: Darci D’Ercole, Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Guests: Clifford R. Kasson, Superintendent, Vestal Central School District Dr. Andrew M. Blaine, Director of Instruction, Vestal Central School District Resources: Common Sense Media Article, 9/26/23 - https://bit.ly/3RYAvQo Surgeon General’s advisory, 5/23/23 - https://bit.ly/4eS6FqF Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

School board elections are right around the corner. Is your board prepared? An effective onboarding process benefits new members by helping them acclimate quickly while avoiding common pitfalls that can strain relations. Through a proactive plan, boards can support their new members while building trust, collaboration and unity on the governance team. This enables them to focus better on advancing positive student outcomes without unnecessary distractions. Host: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA Guest: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Resources: Onboarding toolkit: https://bit.ly/3WBBgSR On Board article - Developing an effective onboarding process: bit.ly/3xhTvlj On Board article - The importance of welcoming new school board members: bit.ly/3IPwd94 NYSSBA’s FAQ: Onboarding New Board Members Guide: bit.ly/43uFmNT Onboarding Checklist: bit.ly/499Z4j1 Need help developing your board operations handbook? Schedule a Custom Board Retreat today! bit.ly/30NAX7l Register for one of NYSSBA’s microlearning courses: bit.ly/43zvfaL Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

As spring approaches, school boards are inundated with budget meetings, budget updates and budgetary data. In this episode, our goal is to provide the knowledge and tools necessary to ensure boards are well-equipped to fulfill their fiduciary duties and present a responsible and impactful budget to their communities. Host: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Guest: Brian Freeman, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Webster Central School District Resources: 2023 MCSBA Fund Balance and Reserves: https://bit.ly/3ULYx3h 2024 Timeline: Annual Budget Vote & School Board Election: https://bit.ly/3uEHNAz On Board Article, 2/5/24: The Board’s Role in Budget Development: https://bit.ly/3ULYtk3 Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

As artificial intelligence emerges as the next frontier in technology, many are excited about the possibilities that are on the horizon. However, there are just as many questions as much is unknown about artificial intelligence. In this episode, we discuss the implications of AI for school boards and attempt to calm any fears that may exist about the creation of our future robot overlords. HOST: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA GUEST: Dr. Mike Doughty, NERIC Assistant Superintendent, Capital Region BOCES RESOURCES: On Board article, 8-14-23 We could have used AI to write this headline* https://bit.ly/3Rnukp7 On Board article, 11-6-23 A.I. has pitfalls and promises https://bit.ly/3GoFXG5 Harris Beach PLLC | Attorneys at Law: www.harrisbeach.com Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

We are becoming a more diverse nation, and it is evident in our k-12 school communities. There are numerous benefits for our students when we consciously pay attention to diversity in schools. However, promoting diversity is more than just encouraging acknowledgement of different ethnic backgrounds. Real diversity initiatives capture the voices from all stakeholders and find the motivational engine for change through the voices of our students. In this episode Sweet Home Central School District is located in the northern suburbs of Buffalo, NY shares their story. HOST: Darci D’Ercole, Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA GUESTS: Dr. Michael Ginestre, Superintendent, Sweet Home Central School District and Lily Fisher, Student, Sweet Home Central School District RESOURCES: Sweet Home CSD NYSSBA Convention Session Presentation https://bit.ly/3SrH6UJ Sweet Home CSD Strategic Plan: https://www.sweethomeschools.org/domain/1177 Sweet Home CSD Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity: https://www.sweethomeschools.org/Page/1515 Harris Beach PLLC | Attorneys at Law: www.harrisbeach.com Stock media provided by www.pond5.com