School Boards
Fully funded and equitable public schools are the bedrock of a just, multiracial society and thus our schools have long been center stage in attacks on civil rights and the public good. With roughly 15,000 school districts in the US, the opportunity & necessity to organize behind a common agenda is clear.

Our Vision and Work

School boards represent the community’s voice in public education, providing governance and shared knowledge of the community’s resources and needs. School board members are the policymakers closest to students in our public education system, working to ensure the mental, emotional, and physical safety young people need to thrive in school and beyond. 

As school boards across the country face rising threats and backlash, Local Progress is working to organize school board members around a multi-issue policy agenda and create a community of practice for progressive local leaders

It's Happening!

Join us for the first-ever SCHOOL BOARD CONVENING

We are beyond excited to host our very first convening for school board members!

The School Board Convening will take place in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, June 22 – Saturday, June 24.

Hosted by Local Progress and the Local Progress Impact Lab, the convening will create space for you to network with school board members from around the country and provide professional development that will help you make an impact in your community. With two tracks and a special site visit, the convening will focus on supporting both school board members elected in the last year and those that have been in office for longer. 

We will cover your lodging, most meals, and reimburse you for your plane or train ticket. 

The convening is only open to Local Progress members and spots are limited! And with more than 250 school board members in our cohort, we expect space to fill up fast so don’t wait! Register as soon as possible!

Resources

School Board Steering Committee

As a membership organization, we believe our work is most impactful when it is informed and guided by members. Bringing a diverse range of expertise and local experience, our School Board Steering Committee advises and shapes our work in this area:

RAAHEELA AHMED

Former School Board Member
Prince George’s County Public Schools, MD

XILONIN CRUZ-GONZALEZ

Former School Board Member
Azusa Unified School District, CA

ASHLEY ESPOSITO

Baltimore Public Schools, MD

EMILY FIGDOR

Portland Public Schools, ME

JILLY GOKALGANDHI

Milwaukee Public Schools, WI

KELLY KENT

Local Progress Board Member
Culver City Unified School District, CA

JENNIFER MECOZZI

Buffalo Public Schools, NY

A'DORIAN MURRAY-THOMAS

Newark Board of Education, NJ

JASMIN RAMIREZ

Roaring Fork Schools, CO

MEGAN SWEET

Alameda Unified School District, CA

JEN WESTMORELAND

Hopkins Public Schools, MN

CHARLIE WILSON

Worthington Schools, OH

Blogs And Featured News

Meet the LP’s newly-formed School Board Steering Committee!

The steering committee will guide the work of the school board cohort moving forward, bringing a diverse range of experiences and expertise to building our shared agenda.

Local Progress New York Meets to Advance Housing Justice

Over 40 local elected officials and partner organizations met in Albany to discuss how to advance housing justice at the local level.
LPFL members and staff posing for a photo in front of the old capitol in Tallahassee.

Florida Local Electeds Call on Governor DeSantis to Veto Harmful Preemption Bills

As Florida legislative session ends, Local Progress Florida speaks out against harmful state preemption bills SB 170 and HB 1417, and calls on DeSantis to veto them.

Collective Courage is Contagious: A Message from ED Sarah Johnson

Executive Director Sarah Johnson shares the news that she'll be transitioning out of the team in the Fall and reflections on why this is the best job she's ever had.