The CASB Fall Conference and Delegate Assembly will be held  in-person on Friday, October 22, and Saturday, October 23, in Fort Collins. There is still time to register for this important event. The Delegate Assembly provides an opportunity for every CASB member board to have their voice heard on important issues of the day. The resolutions approved by the CASB Delegates help to form the organization’s advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels.

Opening Keynote Speaker

Dr. Ann Sebald

Assistant Professor and the Co-director of the School of Education's Center for Educator Preparation at Colorado State University

Dr. Ann Sebald is an assistant professor and the co-director of the School of Education's Center for Educator Preparation at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Dr. Sebald has nearly twenty-five years’ experience in education. Her teaching background includes working as an educator for deaf students in a co-taught general education 3rd and 4th grade classroom.

After leaving the classroom, she earned her doctorate while working with the National Center on Low-Incidence Disabilities at the University of Northern Colorado. Before coming to CSU, Dr. Sebald ran a Special Education Generalist bachelor's degree program at the Center for Urban Education in Denver.

Her research areas of interest include the development of self-advocacy and self-determination among students with exceptionalities; as well as researching the Cognitive Apprenticeship Model through the continuum of teacher preparation: reviewing the effectiveness of apprenticeship and mentoring for the preparation of teacher candidates through co-teaching, and school district induction and mentoring programs that support educators new to the field.

Closing Keynote Speaker

Janine Davidson, Ph.D.

President of Metropolitan State University of Denver

Janine Davidson, Ph.D., has served as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver since 2017. She is a national thought leader in higher education and on topics such as public service, U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Prior to her time at MSU Denver, Davidson served as the 32nd undersecretary of the United States Navy. Her appointment by then‐President Barack Obama as Navy “under” followed nearly 30 years of academic, civilian and military service.

She has taught at George Mason University, Georgetown University, Davidson College and various professional military schools, and was an aviation and aerobatics flight instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She recently returned to the classroom at MSU Denver, co‐teaching a course on the philosophical and legal origins of freedom of speech in the United States.

Agenda at a glance

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021

7:00 - 8:30 a.m.       Breakfast

9:00 - 10:30 a.m.    Opening General Session

• Keynote Speaker, Dr. Ann Sebald, Assistant Professor and the Co-director of the School of Education's Center for Educator Preparation at Colorado State University 

10:40 - 11:40 a.m.    Breakout Sessions

Breakout     Onboarding New Board Members is Time Well Spent
CASB school board members from across the state will be welcoming new board members to their boards following the November elections. Why is it important to spend time up-front in order to ensure new school board members feel included, respected, and valued? How can the current board welcome new members and quickly integrate them into the governance team? These questions and more will be addressed in order to provide concrete strategies for the onboarding process.
Bart Hanks, Board President, Peyton 23-Jt School District
Deirdre Pilch, Superintendent, Greeley-Evans School District 6
Brian Ewert, Superintendent, Littleton Public Schools
Charlotte Ciancio, Superintendent, Mapleton Public Schools

Breakout     Gaining Clarity on Board-Superintendent Roles and Responsibilities
In order for a school board to operate efficiently and effectively, it is essential that there is an understanding among board members and the superintendent regarding the functions and responsibilities of the board versus the superintendent and staff. This session will walk through real-world scenarios to help determine whether actions taken by the board of education fall under "oversight" or "overstepping." In this interactive session, seasoned education leaders and school board members will share their perspectives to help ensure your board has clarity on roles and responsibilities in order to build a rock-solid board-superintendent working relationship, which is key to effective district governance. 
Laura Case, CASB Board of Directors, Board President Estes Park R-3 School District
Risha VanderWey, Superintendent, Montezuma-Cortez School District
Sheldon Rosenkrance, Superintendent, Estes Park R-3 School District
Sherri Wright, CASB Board of Directors, Board President, Montezuma-Cortez School District

Breakout     Engaging Student Voice in Your Board Work
Student voice is essential in the district decision-making process, but how can school boards approach this work? Students engage when their voices matter. With the concern around inequities being exacerbated over this past year, student voice is particularly important for ensuring equitable outcomes for all students. Without question, establishing strategies to engage student voices is essential. You will hear how one district and student group are focused on establishing the culture of student voice and how they have embedded this in their board and organizational work. You'll gain insight in hearing from a local student in regard to how many students envision collaboration with board members.
Facilitator: Sam Battan, Founder and Executive Director, Colorado Youth Congress
Shelly Jarnot, CASB Board of Directors, Board Member Eagle County Schools
Philip Qualman, Superintendent, Eagle County Schools
Meadow Sinner, Mountain View High School Sophomore

Breakout     Telling Your Story: How to Effectively Communicate
Public education is an incredibly complex human enterprise and this fact alone makes the job of telling your district's story so vital. This session is designed to spur conversations between board members and district administrators about ways to tell the story of school board leadership and public education. Your story shows how your board is making a difference, how the district is serving all students, and how public education matters in your community. You have the ability to change perception. You will be provided with a checklist of ideas, strategies, and techniques your board can use to tell your story effectively, as well as techniques to address complaints, questions, and concerns. By investing time in honing your communication skills, you will be prepared to take on community engagement and help others better understand the foundational role our public schools play in our communities.
Douglas Bissonette, Superintendent, Elizabeth School District
Chris Gdowski, Superintendent, Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Kathy Plomer, CASB Board of Directors, Board President Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Frank Reeves, Superintendent, East Grand School District
Diana Sirko, Superintendent, Mesa County Valley 51 School District

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.   Networking Lunch 
1:15 - 2:00 p.m.      Regional Conversations
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.      Breakout Sessions

Breakout   Division, Discourse, and Decision-Making – the Board’s Role in Adaptive Times
In a society that’s more polarized than ever, is civil discourse a lost art? Is it possible to find commonalities and connections in a divisive environment? What are the conversations the school board should be having? This session will help uncover answers to these provocative questions and more. This interactive workshop is designed to help board members explore the impacts of division in discussion and decision-making. Learning outcomes will help to define division, talk about purposeful conversations, and explore strategies to move through conflict. This session will deepen your thinking, model elements of relational leadership — and equip you with techniques and practices designed to help foster a culture of belonging and inclusion.
Carrie Olson, CASB Board of Directors, Board Member Denver County Public Schools 

Bill de la Cruz, Principle Consultant, De La Cruz Solutions; Author; Former CASB Board of Directors

Monica Johnson, Superintendent, Strasburg 31J; CASE Past-President

Breakout     Strategic Planning and Effective Agendas
"Failure to plan is planning to fail" is an age-old saying and one that has a lot of truth to it. This session provides concrete examples your board can follow in order to prioritize desired outcomes and make the most of the board's time by effectively using a well-crafted agenda. District policy manuals set forth the board's strategy because when policy is written, the board makes decisions on questions that arise today, tomorrow, and for years to come. School board members who place a higher priority on strategic planning oversee school districts with comparably higher levels of academic performance. You'll learn the steps to gain success and the pitfalls to avoid. 
J. Thomas Gregory, Superintendent, Academy District 20
Karin Reynolds, Board President, Academy District 20

Breakout     Mental Health Supports for Your Students and Staff
Just when we thought we were making progress on social-emotional learning, mental health supports, eliminating JUUL from our campuses, COVID-19 came along and disrupted not only learning but the lives and physical and mental well-being of students, staff, families, and communities. As the 2021-22 school year gets underway, hear about some of the ways COVID-19 impacted our youth and staff, how have they persevered, and what supports are available today to help them. Join former Telluride Board member and CASB past-president, Paul Reich, for an engaging discussion about mental health and wellness with students, counselors, and mental health professionals. Learn about programs to support both students and staff. 
Paul Reich, Community Relations Liaison for the Center for Mental Health, former Telluride Board Member and CASB Board Past-President

Paige Backlund Jarquin, DRPH, MPH, The Partners for Children’s Mental Health
Fort Collins High School Students

Breakout     Time to "Tell Your Story": Resources and How To's
It's more important than ever to be proactive in storytelling about why locally controlled public schools are so important — and why money matters when it comes to making our schools a place where all children can learn, grow, and thrive. The morning breakout session on Telling Your Story focused on the "Why" and on providing some concrete examples. This session will give you the "How" and "What" to get going in the right direction. This is an interactive and hands-on session giving you the tools necessary to reframe and reclaim the narrative for your district's story. 
Susan Meek, CASB Director of Strategic Engagement and Communication

3:15 - 3:35 p.m.     Snack Break
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.     Closing General Session 

• Dr. Janine Davidson, Metropolitan State University President

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.     President’s Reception

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2021

7:00 - 8:30 a.m                   Breakfast (for 2-day conference attendees)
8:00 - 8:45 a.m.                  Delegate Check-In
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.     Delegate Assembly
12:00 p.m.                             Adjourn

The 81st Annual CASB Convention: Resilient, Ready, Relentless for Colorado Students is our signature event. As the largest gathering of school board members in the state, it provides a unique opportunity to learn, connect, grow, and gain inspiration.  Attendees hear from national speakers, focus on statewide education initiatives and directives, and have a chance to network and share experiences with other education leaders throughout the state.

We're Resilient, Ready, and Relentless in our pursuit of supporting you so that you can do your good work for our Colorado students!

We hope to showcase your amazing students at the CASB 81st Annual Convention! It's easier than ever to submit your art digitally.

We also want to thank our 2021 Student Art Contest sponsor for this year's award - Wold Architects and Engineers!

The one-time federal and state resources offer a promising and unprecedented opportunity to temporarily restore some of the lost state share of revenue, address pandemic-related challenges, and evolve in a way that maximizes the resources and supports available to students. In partnership with many other education organizations, we are launching a “Tell Your Story — Money Matters” campaign to help districts engage your community in this historic process.

Thank you to our Professional Development Update sponsor!

Colorado Association of School Boards

2253 S. Oneida St., Suite 300

Denver, CO 80224

303-832-1000