CASB Fall 2025

SCHOLARSHIP!

A significant scholarship of $100,000 (to be distributed as $25k per year for 4 years) from a family estate in Aspen school district is available to all students in Colorado. I left the brochure with application details with Dr. Dave so Seniors please check with him / Kim Cobb for more details.

Keynote with Nathan Minns

"Yes, and." Use this phrase! Learn to accept and build, not jump to judgement. Involve everyone in the room!

We often do "Yes, but" to pare down, but when we start here, no one contributes.

When you're coming up with a plan, remember

1. It's not always going to be perfect

2. "Yes" I accept the situation, "and" what is the best that we can do now?

3. "Practice" improvising, growth mindset, etc.

Our TABLE 8 group had to market "Mute poem" as if we were on Shark Tank. We had only 60 seconds to come up with our product and marketing plan and then we pitched it! With success, no less, by using "yes and" to keep building on our ideas.

Nathan Minns: nathanminns.com

Pivot pitch: pivotpitchgame.com 

Adequacy study by Great Education Colorado (GEC)

GEC's recent adequacy study found that an adequate K-3 classroom has up to 15 children, and 4th-12th grade has up to 25 kids AND there are lots of paid, consistent, tutors (more for at-risk students), more counselors and health professionals, comprehensive class offerings (electives)--things that kids love and that make them want to go to school--and base support for tech. Also, that schools should have 1 instructional coach for every 200 students.

In Colorado, we are far behind the national average for teacher wages: we are #51 in the nation. Our funding is at 1989 inflation-adjusted level before we even consider today's increased needs for tech, SEL, tools to meet standards, and skyrocketing health insurance costs, or the 25-26 budget cuts.

Parent Partnerships with Leila Kubesch

Don't ask a "why" question of a child with trauma. They cannot answer.

Use the phrase "I am here to support you" not "help."

There is a disconnect between school leaders and parents. Some of it can be cultural.

Remap your conversations:

Help → Support
If → When
Why → What or How

Express gratitude! "Thanks for meeting with me" and don't arrange a parent-teacher meeting like we're not on their side. Have the teacher sitting with (next to) the parent. Sit up, with shoulders back, so your tone will be positive.

Establish rapport. Start small (e.x., postcards) with purpose and be positive. Give options to show flexibility, such as "would you like to come to my classroom at 4:15 after school or can I meet you at a coffee shop?"

Support is the intent: "You and I" not "we." E.x., We want to help your student succeed → "You and I want to support your student's success."

When you have to visit with parents, go through the students. Alleviate their concerns. Establish trust with the student. Invite students and take their side. Practice the conversation you will have with the parents with the students. Make it short: 10-15 minutes max. Don't take live notes so you are fully present--but do write them down asap after so you don't forget. With the parent, tell the student: "you are responsible, you are in charge of your education." Share resources like "homework club."

Parents want to be part of something specific. A one-time activity with an end in mind. They want to help but they don't want to be the sucker that always gets the phone call to volunteer again. Give them specific, relevant, options.

At P/T conference, if we "fill parents in" they get full of anger against child and us (teacher)! Instead pick one issue, not a list, and make a hamburger:

1 positive, specific praise (bun)
1 item/issue (patty)
1 positive, how will you (teacher) support, or "what can I change?" (bun)

Onboarding School Board Members

The school board should have an onboarding process for new members to follow within their first ~6 months. A basic recipe:

• Welcome & intro

• Governance fundamentals

• Legal framework & compliance

• District overview & performance

• Financial stewardship

• Policy + procedures

• Effective board meetings

• Community relations

• Professional development

• Next steps + support

Intro to Board Service

• Welcome letter from Sup. and Board Chair that also mentions the goals, values, story of the district; calls out board retreats and personal connections; references to CASB Leadership Workbook and CASB New Member Handbook

• Member contact directory w/photos

• District org. chart

• Brief district history

Governance Fundamentals

Inform the new member of their role: policy making, oversight, advocacy, fiduciary. Clarify the Board's "lane" and the Superintendent's "lane."

Answer things like:

• How do we get things on the agenda?

• What authority does the board have? Board should have the Sup.'s contract, not just speculate.

• Guidance: who does what? Policies, Guidelines/Procedures, how you communicate with each other, the Sup., the community

Here's where they insisted they would send the slides so we didn't need to take notes. I don't recall most of the details from here, and since I didn't write them down, this is all I can share until I receive the slides!

A really exciting announcement, though, is that CASB will soon offer online learning! CASB Finance 101 (School Finance) and 10 other modules for new board members. It's expected to be available in November, but I am on the wait list to get access sooner to give feedback.

CASB Delegate Assembly

Resolutions and answered questions from the Board. We discussed this official business during the 9/16/2025 board meeting. CASB debrief (Youtube recording).