These are the voices of school directors who volunteer their time and energy in support of public education in Pennsylvania. Hear their stories . . .

• As a school board member, you have the ability and responsibility to make decisions that impact every child, property owner and adult in your community. It is gratifying to be able to help, to impact the future of your kids and your community.
          -- Lou Ann Evans, State College Area SD

• When you think of how you're going to implement policies, think how you're going to affect the broader masses of individuals, instead of making a policy for one kid, for one situation. Know that the decisions you make have a greater good, that they're going to effect a lot of people and be long-lasting.
          -- Thom Sumpter, School District of Pittsburgh

• You have to walk a fine line between what the community thinks they want and what is the academic mission of the school district. Sometimes the decisions are easy, other times it's very difficult. You have to constantly look at the needs and values of the community, and look at the academic mission of the district.
          -- Bob Barrick, Big Springs SD

• I think as a school board member, it's important to understand not only your role in the local community, but also the role of public education in your local community: the value of the school system to the economic health of your community.
          -- Lou Ann Evans, State College Area SD

• I think the one thing that I want everybody to understand is I represent every one of those 3,000 kids. I may be elected by one third of that group, but I represent all 3,000 when I sit on that board.
          -- Jody Sperry, Conneaut SD

• Probably the most important thing school boards do is to make policy. That's critically important, because the policies are those directives that really run the district. And board members are very instrumental in budget-building . . . and also have to be about strategic planning and goal setting for the district.
          -- David Volkman, superintendent, Susquehanna Township SD

• You're a member of a team: nine members of the school board plus the superintendent. You have a chance to voice your opinions, to advocate direction of the school district and speak out for members of the community who otherwise don't have a voice. You have a chance to influence directly your school district and what it does for the students of your area.
          -- Chuck Ballard, East Penn SD

• First off, if you're going to run, you're running to educate the students in the district -- to see that they're getting a proper education. Because it is our position to bring in the correct superintendent, to set policy for the school.
          -- E. Pearl Smith, Norristown Area SD

• And then there's the person who asked, "Well how much will I make?"
  "In this state, nothing," I said, "except the pride that you'll get for what you see in the accomplishments of the school board, for the district and for the kids. The kids are our priority, and they always will be."
          -- Janice Metzgar, Huntingdon Area SD

• As a matter of fact, between executive sessions, public meetings and committee meetings, these folks are giving up sometimes in excess of 24 hours a month -- with no pay. And really they're representing the constituencies of the school district. They're probably in the truest sense, real public servants.
          -- David Volkman, superintendent, Susquehanna Township SD

• Your school board members are doing this as a voluntary effort. They're working as hard as they can to do what they think is right. You need to contact them and let them know what you think of what they're doing. And try to understand the issues they face, so that they feel they are supporting their community and their community supports them.
          -- Chuck Ballard, East Penn SD

• The greatest sense I think for me comes every June, when we sit in the auditorium and watch those kids getting their diplomas. It's the satisfaction of knowing that we had a small part in those kids walking across that stage. We developed the policies, we've hired the faculty, we've developed the curriculum that has gotten them there.
          -- Jody Sperry, Conneaut SD

• Public schools are the heart of the community. By serving as a school board member and thoughtfully approaching your job and your responsibilities, you can have a great impact on everybody in your community. It's a wonderful opportunity.
          -- Lou Ann Evans, State College Area SD

• The buildings are paid for by tax dollars and they ought to be used by the public. With use also comes the responsibility to care for the buildings. The whole idea of pride in your local school district starts with the board and must continue throughout the entire community.
          -- William Stavisky, superintendent, Greater Latrobe SD

• The community needs to understand what's going on in their schools. It's up to the board to communicate that. When the community understands what's going on in the schools, then they're going to be more supportive of the schools, they're going to get involved in the schools, they're going to be willing to put the financial investment in the school.
          -- Barbara Bolas, Upper St. Clair SD

• The promise is that for this culture to remain global in our competition, we better give our kids a real strong foundation. That has to be continually at the forefront for board members.
          -- William Stavisky, superintendent, Greater Latrobe SD