The COVID-19 pandemic placed hardships on our nation, our school children, their families, and the school leaders who worked day in and day out to ensure that every student has the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.

In recognition of the unyielding commitment that school board members displayed during this unprecedented time, outgoing NSBA President Dr. Viola Garcia offered a heartfelt “Thank You” on Sunday during the second general session at the NSBA 2022 Annual Conference in San Diego.

“Thank you for doing whatever it takes to make sure our school children are fed, connected to learning—whether in person or online—and engaged in their education,” Garcia said in her final address as the 2021-22 NSBA president.

When states pivoted to remote learning for the health and safety of students and those who serve them, school board leaders “moved mountains to ensure that students had internet-connected devices, hot spots, and other items necessary for remote learning,” said Garcia, a school board member serving Aldine ISD in Texas.

But these leaders didn’t just feed minds. They also met students’ nutrition needs, delivering lunches on school buses to high-needs communities or providing grab-and-go meals throughout their districts.

“We went from in-person learning to remote learning and back to in-person learning, all in a matter of months,” Garcia recalled. “During that time, we built an infrastructure that will serve our schools, homes, communities, and students in the decades to come.”

NSBA also was busy “working on your behalf and on behalf of the nation’s students,” she added. For example, in collaboration with bipartisan partners in Congress, NSBA helped secure $122.8 billion for K-12 public schools in the American Rescue Plan and $3 billion for IDEA. NSBA advocacy also helped secure $7 billion for the Emergency Connectivity Fund to help connect students to broadband and close the Homework Gap.

Still, many challenges are ahead of us, Garcia said. “As we approach the end of a school year like no other, I hope you’ll take a moment to appreciate everything that you’ve accomplished. I hope you’ll remember how you adapted and transformed learning for so many students.

“We don’t know what that next challenge will be, but I know you’ll be ready for it,” she said. “You’ve proven as much over the last two years.”