Kearney School District Board of Education President Darlene Bailey, Ph.D., has been recognized for achieving Advanced Certification in the Missouri School Boards’ Association Certified Board Member program during the MSBA Igniting Great Ideas Summit on June 11, 2022.

*Darlene Bailey goes above and beyond to serve the district and community*

The program established by MSBA recognizes local school board members for pursuing additional learning opportunities beyond the legally required training. All newly elected school board members must complete a basic 18.5-hour Essential Training required by state law.

“The Advanced Certification through MSBA gives board members an opportunity to dive deep into policy and governance practices and procedures, not just at the local level but statewide and even nationally,” Dr. Bailey said. “It’s a chance to look at things from a 30,000-foot perspective and apply those lessons within our school system.”

The Missouri School Boards’ Association is a not-for-profit organization that exists to help school boards ensure all students succeed.

To achieve Advanced Certification board members must complete the legally required annual refresher training with MSBA, complete an additional 12 hours of elective training, read two books related to school board service, attend at least two MSBA regional or statewide events and write a brief reflection paper relating their study to their board service.

Bailey was born and raised in Kearney. She spent many years in education, including leadership at William Jewell College, and joined the KSD Board of Education in April of 2018. She is currently a Licensed Realtor for RE/MAX in Kearney.

Among many other benefits, going through the MSBA certification process helped Bailey prepare for upcoming strategic planning in KSD, the latest iteration of the Missouri School Improvement Program, and the transition to Dr. Emily Miller’s leadership as the district’s new superintendent. School board members are unpaid volunteers who devote many hours a year to serving students, families and staff.

“I joined the school board as a way to continue my work in education, just in a different way,” Bailey said. “Every board member brings unique qualifications and experience to the board. I’m excited for the opportunities to leverage our roles to benefit the school district and community.”

Visit ksdr1.net/board-of-education to learn more about the KSD Board of Education.

KPGZ News - Kearney School District Director of Communications and Community Relations Ray Weikal contributed to this story