Level Up
Level Up — Boardsmanship for Beginners, 2026-27 Cohort
School board leadership is far more complicated and nuanced than even the most-prepared new school board member realizes. It requires practical knowledge on topics ranging from state and federal requirements to the budgeting process and soft skills to shape culture and institute change.
It can take a board member years to acquire the experience to govern effectively. OSBA is now offering an accelerated track to master the intricacies that define the best school board governance.
“This is the first board I’ve ever sat on. The cohort program has been great to learn the ins and outs, the do’s and don’ts, how to do your job correctly, and the dynamic between the superintendent and the board. It’s great to have this learning opportunity to see how to go about things in a way that is professional and effective.”
– Tyler Hunt, Fossil School Board
Level Up — A Wealth of Support
Boardsmanship for Beginners is an innovative program from the OSBA Board Development experts to support newer school board members’ success through training, mentorship and peer connections.
This cohort program can save districts time and money. OSBA has condensed the beginner-specific board member lessons from years of conventions, conferences and trainings into a single course. With Level Up, a newer board member can leap into the ranks of more experienced members with knowledge to share for less than the cost of a typical board training session.
The two-year program comes with continuing support that includes:
- Free registration for OSBA’s acclaimed Annual Convention, including preconference.
- Free registration for the Summer School Session conference most convenient for you.
- One regional in-person training per year as well as a cohort meeting at Annual Convention.
- Quarterly cafés, which are virtual get-togethers with discussions on selected topics.
- Subscription to a cohort listserv.
- Partnership with a mentor in the second year.
- A free copy of OSBA’s customizable New Board Member Handbook for your organization.
- A certificate of achievement to acknowledge the extra effort to master school board governance.
Level Up — Two Steps to Better Boardsmanship
Boardsmanship for Beginners is divided into two year-long sections that coincide with the budget year.
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Learning the Job
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Making an Impact
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Level Up – Level Two Timeline
OSBA is offering personalized training and support with an abundance of tools, resources and learning opportunities for $1,700 per year. And because boards that learn together are stronger, OSBA also will take 5% off the price for a second member from the same board and keep reducing the cost by 5% each time additional members sign up.
June 26: Deadline to enroll
July 1: The new cohort year begins
July 7: First Virtual Orientation Meeting
July 10 and July 16: Summer School Sessions in Redmond and Eugene. (One is free for Level Up members)
Sept. 14: Virtual Cohort Café
Oct. 8: Regional in-person cohort meeting in Salem
Oct. 13. Regional in-person cohort meeting in Pendleton
October date to be determined: Regional in-person cohort meeting in Southern Oregon
Nov. 12: OSBA Annual Convention preconference (Free to Level Up members)
Nov. 13-14: OSBA Annual Convention (Free to Level Up members)
Jan. 12: Virtual Cohort Café
April 21: Virtual Cohort Café
“I wasn’t excited when I came to the in-person meeting because I was worried it was not going to be applicable. I’m loving it, and I’m learning a lot. The lessons are in comprehensible chunks. The people are gracious and generous with their attention. The caliber of the people in our cohort – it’s really nice to see people who are there because they care and are doing all this public service.”
– Lori Greenfield, Linn Benton Lincoln ESD board member
Level Up — Boardsmanship for Beginners
The cohort program provides essential instruction that is unavailable anywhere else in being a school board leader as well as setting up a supportive network of peers going through the same experiences.
Level up faster with OSBA’s help and become the kind of school board leader who can achieve the goals that inspired your service.
To sign up or ask questions, contact OSBA Board Development’s Reggie Glenn at [email protected].
If you want to learn more about what the cohort program will do for you, contact OSBA Board Development Director Kristen Miles at [email protected].
Level Up cohorts meet in person as well as online to build not only knowledge but also community.
Cohort Cancelation Policy
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Cancellation Policy
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Cancellation Dates and General Information
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