Page 4 - The Edge - BTS 2021

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

BY KARLA WALTER
Get Involved – We’re Already Planning

Next Year’s Conferences!
Karla Walter

Welcome to the 2021-2022 School Year! I hope you am doing the math correctly, 504 days since our last
got off to a successful launch of yet another year full in-person event, which some of you may recall was
of challenges and uncertainties, but with a positive our bi-monthly meeting held on March 4, 2020, at the
mindset and energy ready to do the good work that Black Canyon Conference Center! Little did we know
you all do daily. As I start off my year as AASBO at that time what was in store for us! Through those
President, I would like to thank our Immediate Past difficult times, we all endured extreme stress, relied
President Lizette Huie for her leadership during – as on our creativity to a whole new level, persevered
most of you will agree – the most difficult year of our and, boy, did we Strike Back! I am so proud of the
careers and lives. Despite the challenges the pandemic tremendous and caring work that all of you provided
presented, Lizette continued to lead our organization to ensure that our kids continued to be safe, eat, and
by ensuring that we provided our members with the learn. As our General Session Speaker Brett Culp said,
same quality and quantity of conferences, meetings, you are all Superheroes, keep shining!
and benefits AASBO offers – all in a virtual format!
I look forward to working with her and the rest of the During the conference we also had another dynamic
AASBO Board of Directors and staff to carry on the speaker, Brant Menswar, who spoke about our core
great work that she did. values and to always do our work with purpose,
collaboration, and with ongoing resilience. He
As we head into this new year, we are committed to reminded us how our non-negotiable “Black Sheep
providing the best educational programs, meetings Values” play an important role in how we act as leaders
and conferences to increase your knowledge and and help us identify what matters most in our lives. If
professional skills. We are very excited about our you haven’t participated in the “Black Sheep Values”
partnership with Heinfeld, Meech & Co. to provide assessment you can still do so at <http://worksheet.
educational classes and workshops. The Professional findyourblacksheep.com/AASBO>. My flock of
Development (PD) Committee is already working five values are Kindness, Solution-focused, Integrity,
and planning next year’s conferences. If you haven’t Teamwork and Service.
participated in the PD Committee in the past, it is
never too late to join and get involved. We welcome As part of my Conference report, I deemed it
everyone’s participation and ideas. Our goal is to appropriate to include several pictures that best
provide the best service to our members that they describe our unique Conference experience! I hope
expect and deserve and fulfill their never-ending quest you enjoy!
to increase their knowledge and professional skills.
In closing, I am most thankful to all of you for placing
As your Annual Summer Conference Chair, I am happy your trust in me to serve as your AASBO President
to report that this last July we had a very successful this school year. I promise to do my best and always
in-person conference “AASBO Strikes Back: A New keep your best interests in mind and in my heart! Stay
Hope.” It was great to see the joy on everyone’s safe and do great things!!
faces as we reunited after a long 16 months or, if I

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4 THE EDGE BACK TO SCHOOL 2021