Southwest Independent School District (SWISD) is proud to announce that Board Trustee Florinda Bernal has earned the prestigious designation of Master Trustee upon completion of Leadership TASB, a program sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Mrs. Bernal, who serves as the SWISD Board secretary, successfully completed the program and received the highest recognition awarded by TASB.
Leadership TASB is a comprehensive training program that equips school board members with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective governance. Over the past year, Mrs. Bernal dedicated countless hours to extensive training, exploring various facets of board governance. As part of the program, she had the opportunity to listen to keynote addresses from renowned education experts, gain valuable insights from district showcases, and engage in networking opportunities.
The culmination of Mrs. Bernal's hard work took place during the fifth and final session of the 2022-23 Leadership TASB class, held from June 22 to 24. During this session, participants presented the findings of their yearlong research on five critical issues in Texas public education. This accomplishment highlights Mrs. Bernal's commitment to enhancing the quality of education within SWISD and the broader Texas school community.
The Leadership TASB class gathered in conjunction with TASB's Summer Leadership Institute in Fort Worth, where more than 1,000 new and veteran school leaders attended. The graduation ceremony for the Leadership TASB program, held on June 23, was attended by all Southwest ISD Board Members, Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Ball, and Chief Communications Officer Jenny Collier, who showed their support and celebrated Mrs. Bernal's achievement.
By completing all the required elements of the study program, Mrs. Bernal now joins the ranks of over 900 school board members statewide who are esteemed Leadership TASB alumni. The 2023 Leadership TASB class consisted of 24 school board members from districts of varying sizes and property wealth across Texas. Achieving Master Trustee status is a testament to Mrs. Bernal's dedication to effective governance and her commitment to serving the students and community of SWISD.
TASB, a voluntary nonprofit association established in 1949, plays a vital role in supporting local Texas school boards. School board members constitute the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state, representing districts that collectively serve over 5.5 million public school students. TASB's Leadership TASB program is a cornerstone of their commitment to providing education leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in their roles.