Core Values

Strong values guide behavior — for both individuals and organizations. NSBA employees are united by their commitment to work towards a set of core values that emphasize empowerment, excellence, collaboration, service, respect and credibility.

Leadership

Connecticut School Board Member Leonard Lockhart Elected 2026-27 NSBA President

The National School Boards Association (NSBA) has announced that Leonard Lockhart of the Windsor Board of Education in Connecticut has been elected NSBA president for 2026-27. Becky Fles of MSAD #11 School District in Maine was elected President-elect and Dr. Sami Al-Abdrabbuh of the Corvallis Board of Education in Oregon was elected Secretary-Treasurer. NSBA’s former president, Devin Sheehan of Holyoke Public Schools Committee in Massachusetts, will serve as Immediate Past President.

“We are thrilled to welcome Leonard Lockhart as our new President,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. “Leonard’s unique personal journey and deep commitment to student opportunity provide the perfect vision for this moment. Under his leadership, NSBA’s 2026-27 Board of Directors will be responsible for navigating a complex national landscape, ensuring that our collective voice in Washington remains a singular, powerful force for the 50 million children we serve."

“My journey to this role wasn’t a traditional one, but it is a path I share with millions of students in our classrooms today,” Lockhart said. “Having grown up in public housing, I know firsthand that the messages of hope from a community — combined with the grit of lived experience — are what fuel a child's future. As NSBA President, I am committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of their ZIP code, finds the genius, justice, and joy in their education.”

NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs

NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs

Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Esq., was named NSBA Executive Director and CEO in July 2023. She oversees the association’s operations and initiatives, working closely with state associations of school boards, as well as local school board members, school law attorneys, education professionals, and policymakers to shape education policy, drive innovation, and promote effective governance at the local level.

She is deeply committed to empowering school boards and collaborating with educators, community members, and parents to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education. She works alongside the NSBA team and NSBA members to advance educational equity, foster student success, and create meaningful change in our nation’s schools and school districts.

McCotter-Jacobs has more than 30 years of experience in education, law, and public safety. For more than a decade, she served as Chair of the Board of Education for Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland — one of the nation’s largest school districts. During her time as a school board member, she served as president of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education and Chair of NSBA’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE), demonstrating an unwavering commitment to promoting excellence and equity in education and working tirelessly to enhance educational outcomes for all students. During her time on the school board, McCotter-Jacobs worked for more than 20 years for the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, retiring as the Division Chief of the Office of Professional Responsibility and Legal Affairs at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

McCotter-Jacobs began her tenure at NSBA in 2017, leading the organization’s change around member engagement, as well as building upon the organization’s progress in member services, equity, and social justice to identify discriminatory practices, prejudices, and beliefs in education policy. Under her leadership, NSBA’s CUBE experienced triple-digit growth. She was named NSBA’s Chief Transformational Officer in 2020 and Deputy Executive Director in August 2022.

McCotter-Jacobs received a B.A. in behavioral & social sciences from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. She maintains license to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Careers

Join Us as Advocates for Public Education

We believe public education is America's most vital institution. We work with our state school board associations to advocate for equity and excellence in public education through school board governance. At NSBA, you'll help secure America's future while also building your own.

Flexible Work Schedules: At NSBA, a 35-hour week constitutes fulltime employment. Core business hours are between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., but you may vary your work hours to start as early as 8 a.m. or as late as 10 a.m. with supervisor approval.
Remote Work: Recognizing the many benefits of remote work, NSBA has moved to a nearly 100% work-from-home operation. However, please be aware that NSBA does require occasional on-site work, whether for staff retreats or fun office get-togethers. For this reason, remote candidates should be able to easily travel to Washington, D.C., sometimes with only a day or two notice.
Vacation Time: Hard work earns well-deserved breaks. New employees receive 15 days of vacation and four paid personal days per year. NSBA also observes 11 paid holidays and gives employees generous paid sick leave.
Location, Location, Location: Located in the historic Old Town neighborhood of Alexandria, the NSBA office enjoys close proximity to numerous dining, cultural and retail opportunities. After on-site meetings, many employees walk around the Alexandria African American Heritage Park, relax on a park bench in Carlyle Square, or grab a bite at a nearby restaurant. Our office is near the King St-Old Town Metro Station and Alexandria Union Amtrak Station.

Community

Our employees bring expertise and experience in different areas — law, advocacy, equity, communications, operations, member services — to ensure NSBA champions public education and offers exceptional service to our state associations. When we work together, we create something greater than the sum of our parts. It’s evident in the work we do and the feeling you get when you meet us.

Open Positions

No open positions at this time.

How to Apply

See yourself here? If your skills and experiences match an open job position, email your cover letter, resume and salary requirements to info@nsba.org.

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