All State School Board Member

MONTGOMERY, AL (December 2011) – Distinguished service has earned Jennifer Parsons, president of the Jefferson County school board, the Alabama Association of School Boards’ highest honor.

Parsons has been named a 2011 Alabama All-State School Board Member along with Sandra Manasco of Haleyville, Peg Hill of Shelby County, Ralph Thompson of Lauderdale County and Lori Tippets of Jacksonville. They were honored with a plaque and special recognition at the Dec. 9 awards luncheon, part of the Dec. 8-10 AASB Annual Convention at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.

“Jennifer exemplifies the highest standards this award sets,” said AASB Executive Director Sally Howell. “She is an excellent school board member. She is committed to doing the job well and serving the interests of all students in Jefferson County and Alabama.”

The All-State School Board Recognition Program, now in its 20th year, commends a select group of past or present school board members across the state who have exhibited exemplary boardmanship. All-State candidates are nominated by their fellow board members and judged by a panel of distinguished former school board members. Winners are proven education/community leaders and activists who are committed to ethical standards and have a rapport with local officials.

This year’s winners have actively participated in AASB’s School Board Member Academy, an ongoing school for school board members that features four achievement levels. Credit hours are earned by attending training in eight key areas: roles and responsibilities; effective boards and relationships; financial accountability; staff development; leadership for academic achievement; optimal learning environment; policy and planning; and community engagement.

Parsons has attended 61 AASB conferences, earned 266 academy hours, completed all four levels of the academy and earned enough hours to become a Master school board member. In addition, she has served as AASB’s District 5 director. She is currently a trustee on the Alabama Risk Management for Schools Board and a member of AASB’s Leader to Leader advocacy team. She has served on the AASB bylaws, summer conference planning and nominating committees and has participated in the National School Boards Association Federal Relations Network for several years.

Parsons is a board member of the Jefferson County Public Schools Foundation. She also is working on a local education committee established by Cong. Spencer Bachus to assess current federal laws such as the No Child Left Behind Act and to assist him in evaluating the issues school systems face with the implementation of these laws.

“As an elected official, I have the privilege of meeting and working with a variety of individuals on various issues that affect my district,” said Bachus. “I can honestly say that Jennifer Parsons is one individual who constantly strives to make a difference in the lives of students in the Jefferson County School District.

“Jennifer, with her strong background,” he added, “understands the areas of concern that our schools face and strives to relay those concerns to me and other elected officials in order to improve the education of our students.”

Jefferson County Superintendent Dr. Phil Hammonds credits Jennifer for bringing “calm maturity and steady leadership to the Jefferson County School system during both troubled financial times in Jefferson County’s past as well as times when we are flourishing. Mrs. Parsons daily exemplifies what families and communities wish to see in their board of education members.”

The Alabama Association of School Boards represents all of the state’s public local school boards. Since 1949, AASB has served education leaders and the interests of local decision making in public education. The association’s mission is to develop excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services. For details, call Public Relations Director Denise Berkhalter at 334/277-9700, directly at 334/386-9436 or email publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.