Board Members 
Sara Elaqad, J.D., Chair
Appointed to the Board April 2019; reappointed October 2019; reappointed July 2023, appointed Board Chair July 2023; current term expires June 30, 2027
Sara Elaqad serves as Executive Director for Minds Matter Cleveland – the local chapter of the national nonprofit organization aimed at connecting motivated, high school students from low-income households with the resources, tools, and people to succeed in college. The organization provides mentoring services, writing classes, test preparation, application assistance, financial aid advisem*nt, and summer immersion programs, and boasts a 100% college acceptance rate. She also served three years as Chair for the organization’s National Chapter Leadership Council. Prior to her role at Minds Matter, she served as Academy Manager of Curriculum and Outcomes for Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeast Ohio, and has also been a mentor in Global Cleveland’s Global Rising Program and served on the board of Cleveland Orchestra’s Circle. Elaqad’s work earned her the YWCA Greater Cleveland Distinguished Young Woman Award in 2019. She was also recognized in Crain’s 2019 40 Under 40 class, Crain’s 2020 Notable Immigrant Leaders, and Crain’s 2023 Notables in Education Leadership.
Elaqad is a Cleveland resident and currently lives in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. She holds two Bachelors of Arts degrees from The Ohio State University – one in French and another in International Relations and Diplomacy – and a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law.
Robert Briggs, Esq.
Appointed to the Board July 2023; current term expires June 30, 2027
Mr. Briggs, a lawyer, currently serves as a Partner and Chairman Emeritus at Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. Formerly CEO of Buckingham Law, Mr. Briggs has been significantly involved with various non-profits, foundations, civic institutions and educational organizations. He co-founded the Fund for Our Economic Future in 2004, chaired the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation from 2010 to 2014, and served as Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education from 2014 to 2016, among other notable civic engagements. He holds a bachelor of arts from Duke University and a juris doctor from the Ohio State University. Mr. Briggs formerly served in the United States Air Force as a staff judge advocate and currently resides in Downtown Cleveland.
Charlene Jones
Appointed to the Board April 9, 2024; current term expires June 30, 2025
Charlene Jones serves as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Conversations For College Success. She is retired from Cleveland State University and the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation. Ms. Jones is a graduate of Collinwood High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University. She previously served on the Cleveland Public Library Board of Trustees. She lives in Bratenhal.
Midori Lebrón
Appointed to the Board November 29, 2023; current term expires June 30, 2025
Midori Lebrón serves as the Director of First Year and Exploratory Advising at Cleveland State University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Baldwin Wallace University, a Master’s in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a Master’s in Sociology from Cleveland State University. Additionally, she is currently in her first year as a doctoral student at Kent State University, pursuing an Ed.D in Interprofessional Leadership with a specialization in Leadership in Education. Ms. Lebrón also serves on the board of directors of the Beck Center for the Arts. She was named to the “Top 100 Latinos Cleveland Must Know” list for 2023. Ms. Lebrón lives in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland with her husband and family.
Nigamanth Sridhar, Ph.D.
Appointed to the Board July 2021; current term expires on June 30, 2025
Dr. Nigamanth Sridhar serves as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cleveland State University. In this role, he oversees all academic operations for the university. Dr. Sridhar also holds a faculty appointment as Professor of Computer Science in the Washkewicz College of Engineering at Cleveland State University. He has taught courses and conducted research in a variety of areas computer science, software engineering and computer science education. From 2017 to 2020, he served as the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies at CSU. He grew up in India and earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from BITS Pilani in India. He moved to the United States in 1999 to attend graduate school at Ohio State University, where he earned a master of science degree and Ph.D. in Computer Science. He lives in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood with his wife and daughter, who is a CMSD student.
Diana Welch Howell
Appointed to the Board July 2023; current term expires June 30, 2027
Diana Welch Howell currently serves as Head of Hospitals Expansion for KeyBank’s Laurel Road Brand. She has over a decade of corporate banking experience, with a focus on business management, corporate strategy and development, and financial analysis. Before joining KeyBank she worked for Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati and JPMorgan Chase Bank in Chicago. She holds a bachelor of business administration in finance from the University of Cincinnati. She is a downtown Cleveland resident, has served as a mentor for College Now, Girl Scouts of the USA, and has volunteered on the Young Professionals Board for United Way of Metro Chicago.
In addition to the nine Board of Education members appointed by the Mayor, Ohio House Bill 269 provides that the presidents of Cuyahoga Community College andCleveland State Universityserve as nonvoting ex officio members of the Board.
Dr. Michael Baston
ex officio member
President of Cuyahoga Community College.
Dr. Laura Bloomberg
ex officio member
President of Cleveland State University.
Board of Education
Administration Building
1111 Superior Ave E, Suite 1800
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Phone: (216) 838-0000
FAQs
Do school board members get paid in NJ? ›
The New Jersey State Board of Education has 13 members who are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the New Jersey State Senate. These members serve without compensation for six-year terms.
Is the school board more powerful than the superintendent? ›Only the superintendent can manage the day-to-day operations of the district, and only the board can identify the expectations for the district through its policies. Boards that micro-manage are working outside of their policy-making role.
What should a school board member know in terms of educational practice? ›You should understand your school system's vision, goals, and policies; its current successes, challenges, and opportunities; and the educational environment in your community. Most importantly, you should know the aspirations and expectations of the students and parents.
What are the characteristics of a bad board member? ›- regularly missing meetings.
- pursuing a personal agenda.
- refusing to help fundraise.
- failing to handle confidential information securely.
- refusing to accept or complete tasks.
Inadequate board composition: The board may lack individuals with relevant industry experience or expertise, making it difficult for them to provide valuable insights or guidance. Lack of engagement: Board members show little engagement or commitment to their responsibilities.
How much does the Board of Education pay in New Jersey? ›| Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $57,163 | $1,099 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,972 | $845 |
| Average | $39,575 | $761 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,803 | $573 |
The school board has a dual role: To represent the concerns of the citizens, taxpayers and parents to the school administrators, and to represent the needs of the students and school district to the citizens, taxpayers and parents of the community.
How much does a public school principal get paid in New Jersey? ›As of Aug 1, 2024, the average annual pay for a School Principal in New Jersey is $92,499 a year.
What are examples of school board members' abuse of power? ›- Disregarding ideas from the school superintendent.
- Behaving counter to written (or unwritten) rules of conduct.
- Supporting policies that are not in students' best interests.
- Making inappropriate deals with faculty or other board members in exchange for favors.
| S. No. | Name of the Board |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) |
| 2 | Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) |
| 3 | Goa Board |
| 4 | Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) |
Who is the highest authority in a school? ›
The principal, often in conjunction with the school board, makes the executive decisions that govern the school, as well as having the authority over the employment (and in some cases firing) of teachers. The principal is often the chief disciplinarian of the students.
What does an effective school board look like? ›Effective school boards take part in team development and training, sometimes with their superintendents, to build shared knowledge, values and commitments for their improvement efforts. High-achieving districts had formal, deliberate training for new board members. They also often gathered to discuss specific topics.
What skills are needed to be a school board member? ›- A clear vision for the district. ...
- Communicate their actions to the community. ...
- Work as a team. ...
- Adopt a fiscally sound district budget. ...
- Focus on what is best for all students. ...
- Advocate at the local, state and national level for public education.
In general, all school boards have three major responsibilities: developing the annual budget to run the school system; setting school policies; and hiring and evaluating the superintendent.
What does a good board member look like? ›The processes and role requirements for being a good board member can often be taught. However, without some core characteristics such as a passion for the cause, eagerness to participate, and the commitment to see the job through, even the most knowledgeable individual will be an average board member at best.
What are the four pillars of board effectiveness? ›These are people quality, focus, and dedication; information archi- tecture; structures and processes; and group dynamics and board culture. We will explore each of these pillars in detail in Chapters 4 to 7.
What are the attributes of an effective board member? ›To summarize, the most effective corporate board directors are articulate, logical, and strategic in their communication. They listen more than they speak, are deliberate and thoughtful in their contributions, and don't dominate the discussion.