Leadership TASB History

In July 1991, Patti Clapp, President of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), appointed an advisory committee composed of school board trustees from around the state and charged them with consideration of a new program in leadership growth and development. Her vision was to have a program that would assist school board trustees beyond the fundamental reach of their current training through TASB. According to Clapp, “There exists a need to develop board members as true trustees, ones who accept the responsibility to look at the big picture, to be aware of how their decisions affect other districts in the state.” She added, “TASB can assist by developing a vehicle to provide a cadre of leaders who have a shared vision for education improvement for all children.”
 
Clapp served as an ex-officio member of the committee and they held their first meeting in September 1991 during the TASA/TASB Convention in Houston.
 
From that starting point, the advisory committee held three weekend meetings carrying over into 1992. First was the development of a mission which they agreed was “…to create a cadre of leaders in school board trusteeship as key resources for ensuring effective public school governance that results in quality public education for all Texas children.” From there, and many hours later emerged Leadership TASB (LTASB). While still in its infancy LTASB was designed to be a unique study in leadership complete with ambitious program goals, attainable program outcomes, and an exciting program design. Trustees serving on the advisory committee were Curtistene McCowan (De Soto ISD), David Vela (Wharton ISD), Debbie Manns (Leander ISD), Committee Chair Gerald Ponder (Denton ISD), Glenda Marsh (Angleton ISD), Gregory Jerkins, Sr. (Somerville ISD), Harry Byrd (Tomball ISD), Rebecca Wade (Tyler ISD) and Gracie Acuna (Harlandale ISD).
 
In September 1993 the Charter Class of 36 participants embarked on a new journey, one that was two years in the making. It was a leadership program unlike any other with a mission unlike any other. Leadership TASB truly is a one-of-a-kind program.