About SBMA
The landscape of education is constantly evolving, demanding strong leadership and collaborative spirit. The School Board Member Alliance (SBMA) was founded on the principle that by empowering school board members with knowledge, fostering open dialogue, and advocating for sound policies, we can collectively create a brighter future for Virginia's students. On this page, you'll discover the key elements that guide our efforts and the priorities we champion to enhance educational opportunities for all.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide education, emphasizing common sense policies and practical solutions that benefit students, educators, and families. We empower school board members to uphold and respect parental rights, while exploring the value of school choice to enhance educational opportunities. Through our trainings, we foster transparent governance, promoting open communication, accountability, and the involvement of all stakeholders. We prioritize fiscal responsibility, equipping school board members with insights into responsible resource management for optimal student outcomes. Together, we strive to create a well-rounded educational experience that supports the success of every student.
OUR VISION
SBMA is a non-partisan association empowering school board members with resources, professional development, and a supportive network. We equip members to focus on academic achievement, navigate educational challenges, promote governance excellence, and advocate for students and families, ensuring informed decisions that drive academic growth.
OUR PRIORITIES
- Arrange for like-minded networking.
- Focus on excellence in traditional academics.
- Provide student-focused perspective in educational policy.
- Advocate for educational freedom for Virginia families.
- Provide a choice in school board training and advocacy.
- Enhance local control with state-level accountability.
- Promote fiscal responsibility at all levels of board governance.
- Encourage and facilitate transparent governance.
- Provide products and services to our membership that support the success of students in Virginia public schools.
- Advocate and provide legal counsel for our members.
SBMA MEMBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
After attending our training, members of the School Board Member Alliance have achieved remarkable progress in various educational initiatives, reflecting their commitment to enhancing the quality of education in their districts. Here's a list of notable accomplishments:
Why #1: SBMA’s core mission is centered on academic excellence. Prioritizing student learning outcomes, reducing achievement gaps, and focusing on measurable success is foundational to everything else.
Why #2: Parental rights and involvement are key tenets of SBMA’s advocacy. Empowering parents helps restore trust in public education and ensures that school board members are accountable to their communities.
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Why #3: Aligning early with state reforms shows leadership and a commitment to student-first, law-abiding governance—an important part of SBMA’s push to reinforce local control and academic priorities.
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Why #4: These structures demonstrate a serious investment in community engagement and transparency, which are pillars of effective governance.
Why #5: Public forums help reinforce transparency and allow board members to stay connected to community concerns, but the structure provided by advisory committees tends to yield more actionable input.
Why #6: Understanding teacher attrition is important, but this is more diagnostic than strategic. It supports other goals (like academic success and teacher quality) but doesn’t stand alone as a core pillar.