Many have asked me over the years if a teacher can be a school board member and still be in the classroom.

At least in my LEA, one cannot. Many teachers over the years have run for positions on the school board, but each has had to stipulate that he/she would step away from the classroom to serve.

That should not be the case. If anything, this pandemic has shown that many school boards have not really listened to teachers as far as reopening school buildings is concerned.

People can say that a teacher is too involved in the school system to view it from different angles and through diverse lenses.

They would be wrong.

Teachers are voters. Teachers are parents of public school students. Teachers are tax payers.

Teachers know the school system well. From the inside out.

That perspective has largely been missing from many school board meetings.

And it’s desperately needed.