Investing in Delaware’s School Board Leadership: Launching Boards First 2025
As the 2025 school board elections come to a close, newly elected members across Delaware are stepping into one of the most critical roles in public education governance. At First State Educate (FSE), we believe that strong, informed, and supported school boards are essential to improving student outcomes — and that’s why we’re proud to announce the launch of Boards First 2025.
Boards First 2025 is a statewide initiative designed to ensure that new school board members in Delaware begin their terms with the tools, training, and connections they need to lead effectively. The research is clear: school boards that engage in professional development and governance training are more likely to drive positive changes in academic achievement, fiscal oversight, and district performance. (Learn more from the National School Boards Association: https://www.nsba.org/Resources/School-Board-Leadership/Standards-of-Good-Governance).
What Boards First 2025 Offers
Through Boards First 2025, FSE is rolling out a series of high-impact supports for newly elected board members:
A self-paced orientation curriculum that covers board roles and responsibilities, ethical decision-making, strategic planning, policy development, and financial oversight. Participants earn microcredentials upon completion — building public trust and setting a new standard for board leadership.
Mini-grants for local innovation, enabling board members and districts to pilot community-driven solutions. These small but strategic grants help turn ideas into action and create a foundation for longer-term impact.
Community conversation funding to support informal gatherings like “coffee with parents” or “pizza with students.” These events are a powerful way to build relationships and open lines of communication between board members and those they serve.
Exclusive access to the Knowledge Hub, Delaware’s first digital platform for school board learning and collaboration. The Hub includes training modules, a resource library, and private groups where members can ask questions, share insights, and problem-solve together. (More about our Knowledge Hub here: https://www.firststateeducate.org/knowledgehub).
An invitation-only statewide convening on June 17, 2025, where new members will meet with state legislators, education leaders, and national experts to discuss priorities and shape Delaware’s next phase of public education reform. This event sets the tone for what collaborative, forward-thinking board service can look like.
Why This Matters Now
Delaware currently ranks 45th in the nation in public education outcomes. At FSE, we believe that’s not because we lack great teachers, students, or families—it’s because our systems haven’t yet invested in the local leadership needed to drive change. Boards First 2025 is one part of a broader movement to change that.
Across the country, states are recognizing the value of training school board members. Models like School Board Partners (https://www.schoolboardpartners.org/) and Council of Great City Schools (https://www.cgcs.org/) show that aligned, effective governance can lead to real progress. Delaware can—and should—be part of that national wave.
Join the Work
If you’re a newly elected board member, we’re here to partner with you — not to prescribe, but to support, connect, and amplify your leadership.
If you’re a community member, educator, or policymaker, we invite you to be part of this work. Follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-state-educate), subscribe to our newsletter, and explore the Knowledge Hub to see how your voice and expertise can help shape the future of education in Delaware.
Delaware’s students deserve the best—and that starts with well-equipped school boards ready to lead.