Page 6 - The EDGE Fall 2024

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
BY BRIAN MEE
BY BRIAN MEE
Enhancing Knowledge: The AASBO Commitment

e Essence of Leadership
to Professional Development
Brian Mee

Mark Twain once said, “Really great people
Having been involved with AASBO for the past 37 about equipping individuals with the tools they need
make you feel that you too, can be great.” When
elected as President to the Association of School
years, I have always believed that the importance to excel in their roles. Our workshops and conferences

Business O cials International, I was charged

of continuous learning cannot be overstated. For offer interactive learning experiences, enabling
with the task to come up with a theme for my
Arizona Association of School Business Officials members to engage with experts, share insights, and

presidency. e theme I chose was something
members, professional development is not merely an collectively problem-solve some of the most relevant
I called, E3 Leadership. “If your actions inspire
obligation; it's an opportunity to enhance knowledge, issues in school business operations.
others to dream more, learn more and become

more, you are a leader” is quote by John Quincy By engaging in thorough training, our members
sharpen skills, and cultivate a community of well-
Adams captures the essence of leadership and
trained professionals. At AASBO, we aim to become better prepared to tackle the complexities
lays the foundation I would like to focus on
provide our members with high-quality, relevant, of their roles. This readiness results in higher work
this year as I share some of the views from my
transformational professional development. quality, benefiting the entire school community.
messages as ASBO International President.
Leadership is one of the most important AASBO believes that when school business officials

roles for school business o cials – and it is also are well-trained, their confidence grows, and so does
The Value of Relevant Material
one of the most challenging responsibilities.
One of the hallmarks of AASBO's offerings is our their ability to positively impact the schools they
When it comes to leadership in our jobs, it isn’t
commitment to delivering relevant material tailored serve.
necessarily something we do, that is, lead. It’s
who we are – leaders. E3 Leadership – Envision,
to the dynamic challenges facing school business
Engage and Empower are essential elements of
officials. We strive to keep our curriculum updated Building a Professional Network
leadership.
with the latest trends, technologies, and regulatory In addition to providing quality training sessions,
Envision: One of the most important traits of
changes. By providing our members with the tools AASBO emphasizes the importance of networking
all great leaders is the ability to have a clear vision
and information they need to navigate their roles among peers. The connections made at AASBO
for their organization — a distinct and vibrant
concept of what the organization should stand
effectively, we help them to feel prepared, competent, events lead to the exchange of innovative ideas
for and strive for now and in the future.
and ready to tackle any challenge. and best practices that can be directly applied in
Engage: Effective leaders engage all the
Additionally, the quality of work produced by the workplace. This communal atmosphere fosters
stakeholders through collaboration and soliciting
AASBO-trained professionals stands out. Employers collaboration and encourages our members to support
Speaking of excellence, I would like to thank our
their input, considering their ideas, and taking constructive
criticism regarding the vision and the path toward its outstanding President Nate Bowler for providing a clear
frequently notice a positive difference in their one another in their professional journeys, creating a
realization. ey weigh the stakeholders’ interests and needs and positive vision for our recently completed 66th Annual

employees after they engage with our offerings. Our sense of belonging and value.
and align them with the vision to achieve the desired result. Conference and Exposition – Learn from the Past, Go Forward
members are inspired to implement newly acquired When employers observe that positive differences
Empower: One of the most important skills of every to the Future, and of course a huge thank you is due to all
knowledge and skills, taking initiative in addressing are emerging among their employees due to their
successful leader is the ability to empower others to make the speakers, vendors, volunteers and especially Ana, Audrey,
issues and finding innovative solutions. They become involvement with AASBO, it speaks volumes about
decisions that support the organization’s vision. Effective Chuck and Je for providing the outstanding foundation on
leaders grant others this decision-making authority, but they which we build this event. e keynote presentations by Josh
change-makers within their institutions, leading by the impact of our professional development initiatives.
also provide the guidance, coaching, resources, and tools Tickell and Aron Ralston were informative and quite moving,
example and paving the way for their colleagues. As knowledge is shared and skills are honed, the
necessary to ensure the decisions support the work of the the professional development breakout sessions provided
organization. Success requires mutual trust and a clear vision. school districts are equipped with responsive,
our members with a wealth of knowledge on a broad range of
Training That Transforms engaged personnel who consistently deliver on their
Leadership also involves another E: Excellence. E ective topics, and the tribute to Carolyn Warner, the iconic Arizona
leaders create an environment that expects — even demands Superintendent of Public Instruction, brought back fond
Another cornerstone of our professional development commitments.
excellence. In that environment everyone strives to produce memories for all of us.
programs is training that genuinely transforms.
a quality product. In our case, that quality product is students I welcome new members to our Board of Directors, and
AASBO understands that training is not just about Promoting Career Growth
who have the knowledge and skills to succeed in higher applaud AASBO members who were recognized at our Annual
checking off boxes or meeting requirements – it's The ripple effect of high-quality professional
education, in the workforce and our society. If we are excellent Conference for their accomplishments.

in our supportive responsibilities, our education sta can focus Finally – a reminder. Our rst bimonthly meeting of the new

on their responsibilities. school year is September 11 at EVIT. You’re invited!
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