Utah woman inducted to National School Board
Utah resident Mossi White was inducted as president of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) Monday, April 6 at the NSBA conference in New Orleans.
White encouraged attending school board members and administrators from across the country to work together in providing quality education for American children.
“We need to be side by side, heart to heart, hand in hand, supporting each other in this the greatest cause we could ever be involved in and children will be the winners,” White said in her inauguration speech.
Linda Ogden, a close friend and associate of White’s through the Utah School Boards Association, said she has served for 15 years in the USBA as executive committee member and on the Board of Directors and has served as president of that organization twice as well as being involved in the Provo School District.
White has also served on NSBA’s Board of Directors since 1996, according to the March 2002 edition of the Utah School Boards News (USBN).
“Mossi always says her philosophy is she would rather wear out than rust out, and what better place to wear out than in serving children,” Ogden said.
According to the USBN article, NSBA is an organization whose purpose is to “foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through school board leadership.”
White said as a child in Norway she remembered loving American movies because there was always a hero to save the day. The United States’ education system is not a movie, though, she said, and there is no Superman to rescue the nation’s children.
White said the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the school boards.
As the leaders of American children’s leaders, White said school board members have a responsibility to set the standard of excellence.
“Do not let your life be a candle dimly lit,” White said, quoting George Bernard Shaw, “but a torch burning bright.”
“Ninety-five thousand school board members across the country have that fire lit within for children with a warmth, passion and energy with which we would illuminate the American public,” White said.
Ogden said White has that passion for the children of America.
“She really cares about children. She is the best advocate for children and their success in education I can think of. Mossi cares about everyone, but especially children,” Ogden said.
In her speech White said public education has not failed, contrary to nay sayers beliefs, but school boards must continue to help children in their communities.
“Many people have bought into the opinion that public education has failed,” White said. “But what it has done is phenomenal. Sure we can do better, but public education has not failed.”
White told a story of a neighbor child who followed her one day on a walk, put his hand in hers and then asked, “Where are we going?” completely trusting that where she would take him was a good place.
“Let us ensure that the place we are taking are children is a good place,” White said. “We will make this the best year ever as an advocate for our nation’s children.”
White was elected to the NSBA two years ago as secretary/treasurer and served as president elect in 2001 before becoming President.
To emphasize the importance of education, White told a story of attending an elementary school where the governor was to hold a press conference. White said as she entered a girl asked if she was the governor to which she said no. The girl then asked if she worked for the governor, and White said she worked for someone even more important.
“I work for you,” White said she told the girl.
White said the girl considered the idea for a moment before replying, “I guess that is even more important than being governor, isn’t it?”