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Alabama Association of School Boards
| Alabama Association of School Boards | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Montgomery, Alabama |
| Top official: | Sally Smith, J.D., Executive Director |
| Year founded: | 1949 |
| Website: | Official website |
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The Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) is an organization of school boards in Alabama. The association's website says, "The Alabama Association of School Boards has represented the state’s public local school boards since 1949. Our mission is to develop excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services."[1]
On October 28, 2021, the AASB announced that delegates to the association's annual business meeting in December would vote on a bylaws change that would allow the AASB board of directors to decide the association's membership status in the National School Boards Association.[2][3] At the meeting, which was held December 2-4, 2021, delegates voted to change the bylaws to make membership in the NSBA no longer mandatory, and the AASB board of directors voted to withdraw from the NSBA.[4][5][6]
Background
The AASB was founded in 1949. In 1955, the Alabama State Legislature made it the "organization and representative agency of the members of the school boards of Alabama." As of 2016, the AASB said every school board in Alabama was a member of the association.[7]
Leadership
As of August 2025, the following individuals held leadership positions at the Alabama Association of School Boards[8]
- Rev. Russell Clausell, President
- Scott Suttle, President-Elect
- Bradley Ingle, Immediate Past-President
- Dr. Tonya Chestnut, State Board of Education Liaison
- Sally Smith, J.D., Executive Director
- Ann Peach, District 1 Director
- Camille Gibson, District 2 Director
- Melanie Hill, District 3 Director
- Dr. Chante' Ruffin, District 4 Director
- Derek Henderson, District 5 Director
- Michael Webb, District 6 Director
- Randy Smalley, District 7 Director
- Donna Jones, District 8 Director
- Alice Lessmann, District 9 Director
Work and activities
The Alabama Association of School Boards is supported by the dues it charges members and the funds it raises from the training and association services it provides.[7]
As of 2016, the AASB website included the following information about the association's work:[9]
- Training
With its AASB School Board Member Academy, the association offers different classes to train school board members regarding subjects like "leadership for policy and planning" and "leadership for academic achievement."[10]
- Advocacy
The AASB aims to "translate for state policymakers the diverse needs and challenges of public education in their communities" by working with their school board members and advocating policies in the governmental and legal arenas. On the governmental side, the AASB website says that the organization "fosters grassroots advocacy, monitors the lawmaking process and state Board of Education, builds coalitions and advocates such key education issues as student success and local decision-making." As for legal advocacy, the AASB provides legal assistance for its members when there are legal challenges brought against their decisions.[11][12][13]
- Services
The AASB offers a variety of services for its school board members. For instance, it provides an evaluation tool to gauge board progress toward important goals. It also advises school boards to ensure their proposed policies are in compliance with relevant state and federal laws. In addition, they provide access to publications relevant to school boards and help with hiring superintendents and other administrators as well as how to claim non-earmarked medicaid reimbursements.[14]
See also
- What is an influencer?
- Alabama
- Public education in Alabama
- Consortium of State School Boards Associations
External links
- Alabama Association of School Boards official website
- Alabama Association of School Boards on Facebook
- Alabama Association of School Boards on X
Footnotes
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "Home," accessed December 6, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "Public Statement Regarding NSBA," October 28, 2021
- ↑ The AASB 2021 bylaws said, "The Association shall be a federation member of the National School Boards Association in good standing."
- ↑ Trussville Tribune, "Alabama Association of School Boards withdraws from national organization after letter to Biden," December 3, 2021
- ↑ AL.com, "Alabama school board association cuts ties with national group over terrorism letter, 'dysfunction,'" December 6, 2021
- ↑ Facebook, "Alabama Association of School Boards on December 6, 2021," accessed December 6, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Alabama Association of School Boards, "About," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "About: Our Board," accessed August 28, 2025
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "About: What We Do," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "Training," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "Advocacy," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "Advocacy: Governmental Advocacy," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "Advocacy: Legal Advocacy," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Association of School Boards, "Services," accessed January 13, 2016
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