AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott has declared January School Board Recognition Month to honor the more than 7,200 locally elected trustees in Texas. These unpaid volunteers work closely with the community to support the success of public education, oversee the district superintendent, and attend trainings to encourage constant growth, all to ensure students have the best schools possible. The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) is joining the celebration by encouraging the community to show appreciation to these men and women.

 “In communities across the state, dedicated school board members willingly step forward to tackle serious issues and deal with financial uncertainties while receiving no pay in order to provide excellent educational experiences for all children,” said James B. Crow, TASB executive director. “We urge every community to thank and support local board members. Join us in applauding their service to our students, our communities, and this state,” said Crow.

School districts across Texas will be honoring their local school board members this month with celebrations, student-written thank-you notes, and certificates of appreciation. The community can join in by writing or saying thank you to their local school board members and by sharing appreciation using #SchoolBoardMonth on Twitter and Instagram.

 “Though many may not realize it, school boards play a crucial role in ensuring our precious children receive the best education possible by working with parents, education professionals, and community members to create successful learning environments,” said Abbott in his proclamation.

TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local Texas school boards. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 5.4 million public school students.