Leading From an Island: School Board

April 17, 2025

• Description

  On April 17th at 7 p.m. KSBRC hosted a webinar discussing the challenges and obstacles school board members face when advocating for student-focused outcome improvement. Too often, school board members who advocate for holding their district accountable for providing an education that prepares students with the skills to be successful in college and careers after graduation are silenced, ridiculed, or denigrated for taking a student-focused stance.

  Robert Merrit, a former school board member, leader, and public school educator, will discuss real-world, practical suggestions for how to lead from what may feel like – an island – as you are promoting student-focused academic improvement.

  About Robert Merritt:

  Bob Merritt has been a teacher for much of his career, serving 12 years in public education and over two decades in private-sector corporate education. In the private sector, Bob was a training hiring manager and developed behavioral-based assessments to use during interviews. While working on a master’s in education he took as electives, 12 credit hours required of Superintendent candidates in Kansas. Bob served two terms on the Goddard Board of Education, including serving as both the board Vice President and President. This allowed him to apply behavioral interview procedures from the private sector to the evaluation for the leadership role in public schools. He is also past president of the Mulvane Teachers Association. Bob has taught on four continents and may be the only Kansan who has skyped in and voted on BOE actions from India, Brazil, Canada, and China!