(Austin) – MaryAnn Weaver of Blanco ISD was among a group of school board members gathering in Austin November 14-15 to focus on the role of advocacy in achieving educational excellence. Trustees, who met for the second of five training sessions of Leadership TASB, began their activities by touring the state Capitol and participating in in-depth training on advocacy.

Keynote speaker on Friday was Jackie Lain, associate executive director of governmental relations, Texas Association of School Boards TASB). The group also toured Austin ISD’s Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders; a unique all-girls public school serving grades 6-8.

Saturday speakers included Glenna Hodge, director of governmental affairs, Linebarger Goggan Sampson & Blair, LLP; Patricia Woods, consultant and corporate trainer with the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation; and Harvey Kronberg, editor of the Quorum Report, a nonpartisan newsletter covering state politics and government since 1989. Also slated was Arch Lustberg. Lustberg is recognized nationally as a leading trainer in effective communications and with a client list including numerous political candidates and corporate executives.

Selected by TASB, the group of 31 trustees is participating in a year-long education leadership study program. The Leadership TASB class of 2009 represents Texas school districts of all sizes, with student populations of 543 to 82,000, and reflects the range of property wealth. Participants who complete all required elements of the study will graduate next year with a unique graduation designation recognized by TASB.

Each session has a specific theme that builds on the previous session and features state and nationally recognized experts in the fields of leadership development and education. Teams also work on extended learning assignments between meetings throughout the year. Created in 1993, Leadership TASB has almost 450 graduates to date. Program sponsors include Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.

TASB is a voluntary, nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local Texas school districts. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve approximately 4.7 million public school students.