By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
There are many people who are vital to the success of Athens ISD: teachers, of course, as well as campus and districtwide leadership, support staff and parent volunteers. Each January, we make a particular point of showing appreciation for seven community members who volunteer to shoulder considerable responsibility as advocates for our children and our schools. They are the members of the Athens ISD Board of Trustees, elected and entrusted to make the best possible decisions on behalf of our young people.
Board President Robert Risko, Vice President Steve McElhany, Secretary Bob Spears, and board members David Freeman, Ginger Kirk, Eric Smith and Alicea Elliott serve as crucial links between the community and the classroom. They are responsible for an annual budget of over $27 million, approximately 3,300 students, some 460 employees and five campuses. And they do it all for no return other than the knowledge that their work is important.
“We are blessed to have an excellent board,” said AISD Superintendent Blake Stiles. “I can say, without a doubt, the goal of every one of our board members is the same. They want all of our students to become successful adults, who walk across the stage at graduation ready for college or work that will be meaningful to them.”
It is more important than ever that we support public education so that today’s students are prepared to be productive citizens and leaders of tomorrow. Our board members provide vision and leadership in their roles as advocates, and, for that, we thank them.