Five local school boards received a prestigious honor at the Alabama Association of School Boards District 6 meeting Sept. 29 at the Classic on Noble in Anniston.

School boards in Attalla, Sylacauga,

Talladega, Cherokee County and Talladega County received the fourth annual AASB President’s Award for dedication to improving their boardmanship skills.

The awards were given this year to 41 school boards across the state during AASB district meetings Sept. 14-Oct. 5 in nine geographical regions. The award is presented annually at fall district meetings to school boards that have had at least 60 percent of their members attend three or more AASB School Board Member Academy courses in the 2008-09 academy year that ended June 30.

“We’re proud of this year’s winners of the AASB President’s Award,” said AASB President Sue Helms. “They take seriously their roles as education leaders, community representatives and advocates of student achievement. They strive to strengthen their leadership and boardmanship skills through meaningful training and educational opportunities.”

This fall’s district training sessions were built around the theme “Making a Bigger Difference Using Data.” AASB Board Development Director LuAnn Bird explained how school boards can use data to improve student achievement. The introduction to data-driven decision making equipped attending boards with the right questions to ask and actions to take, so they can understand and target students’ learning needs and align board actions with achievable, yet challenging goals.

Sue Jones led the fall meeting as her last act as District 6 director. Jones, formerly of Jacksonville, no longer serves on her board.

In accordance with AASB bylaws, member boards in the district will elect a new director by Oct. 31 for District 6, which includes school boards in Anniston, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Jacksonville, Oxford, Pell City, Piedmont, St. Clair, Sylacauga and Talladega; in Attalla, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Talladega counties; and the Alabama Institute For the Deaf and Blind board.