The role of the Government Affairs Committee is to provide a forum for discussion of issues which have become the subject of federal legislation or of importance to a number of states. When legislative and governmental issues arise, the committee is responsible for recommending to the NASBE Board of Directors, within the scope of duly adopted resolutions, missions, and beliefs, the application of NASBE policy to legislative and governmental affairs.

Angelika Schroeder, SBE member representing CD 2, has been selected to participate in NASBE's 2012 Policy Study on the Role of Technology in Schools and Communities. This is Dr. Schroeder's third consecutive appointment to NASBE study group service.

As digital influences expand and their effects on students’ lives increases, the educational experience of students changes. Today’s climate of instant communication and access to information provide opportunities and challenges to teachers and administrators. The work of the technology policy study will focus on the following areas:

• Using technology to personalize teaching and learning for all students
• Preparing students for computer-based assessments
• Increasing teacher capacity
• Media literacy and digital citizenship

A report on the group’s findings with recommendations for state policy will be released in October 2012 at the NASBE Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

October 2011
President-elect and Directors Selected for National Association of State Boards of Education

Arlington, VA — Patrick Guida, vice chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Regents of Elementary and Secondary Education, was voted president-elect of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). Guida will begin his term of office as president-elect in January 2012 and then serve as president of the association in 2013. The membership also elected five other state board of education members to the organization’s board of directors. Their two-year terms will also commence in January.

Re-elected to two-year terms to the NASBE Board of Directors were:
Stan Archie, Missouri State Board of Education (Central region);
Jane Goff, Colorado State Board of Education (Western region).

Newly elected to the board for two-year terms were:

Rob Hovis, Secretary-Treasurer, State Board of Education of Ohio

Ilan Plawker, New Jersey State Board of Education (Northeast region)
Mary Sue Murray, Georgia State Board of Education (Southern region)

Ferdinand Risco, Connecticut State Board of Education (junior New Member representative)

This group will join the following members who are returning for another year on the board of directors:

President Gayle Manchin, West Virginia State Board of Education

Past-President Allan Taylor, Connecticut State Board of Education

David Dennis, Kansas State Board of Education (Central region)

Carol Murphy, Utah State Board of Education (Western region)

Brenda Gullett, Arkansas State Board of Education (Southern region)

Mary Lord, District of Columbia State Board of Education (Northeast region)

Steve Pound, Maine State Board of Education (senior New Member representative)

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The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen State Boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and students. For more, visit www.nasbe.org.

August 2011

Goff and Hammond Appointed to Governor's Education Leadership Council


Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia have announced appointments to the Education Leadership Council. State Board member Jane Goff and Commissioner of Education Robert Hammond are among the 38 appointees. Council members will serve terms expiring June 30, 2013.

The Education Leadership Council was created by executive order on John Hickenlooper’s first day in office. The council will provide a meaningful forum for educators, community members, business leaders and lawmakers to examine the current status of education policies and make recommendations to the governor, General Assembly and governing boards regarding long-term improvements. Garcia will chair the council.

“Education is key to our children’s success and to the success of Colorado,” Garcia said. “The Education Leadership Council will work to ensure our state helps deliver on the collective promise created by recent education reforms, like the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids and the Educator Effectiveness bill.” The council met for the first time on Sept. 20.

Source: EdNewsColorado (9/1/11), Colorado Executive Order B 2010-010

January 2011
Three Colorado State Board of Education Members Sworn In; Bob Schaffer Elected Board Chairman, Marcia Neal Elected Vice-Chairman

A swearing in ceremony was held today at the Colorado Department of Education for newly elected members Debora Scheffel, representing the 6th Congressional District, and Paul Lundeen, representing the 5th Congressional District. Returning board member Angelika Schroeder, who was first appointed to the board by a vacancy committee two years ago, won her bid to represent the 2nd Congressional District. Schroeder’s term runs two more years before she would consider re-election; Scheffel and Lundeen begin six-year terms today.

One of the first orders of business for the new board was to elect officers. On one unanimous vote, Bob Schaffer (4th Congressional District) was elected chairman and Marcia Neal (3rd Congressional District) was elected vice-chairman. ”I appreciate everyone’s support and confidence,” said Chairman Schaffer before the vote. “I’ve enjoyed being chairman over the last two years…it’s been a delight.” Said Vice-Chairman Neal: “I’m very pleased to assist the chairman in any way we can as we move forward.”

The remaining members of the Colorado State Board of Education are Elaine Gantz Berman (1st
Congressional District) and Jane Goff (7th Congressional District).

November 2010
State Board Member Jane Goff Returns From Tour of Japan


Colorado State Board of Education member Jane Goff travelled to Japan Nov. 6-14, 2010, as part of the Japan Foundation’s third annual Invitational Group Tour Program for U.S. educators. The purpose of the program is to further Japanese-language education by promoting an understanding of Japan, nurturing an affinity toward the Japanese culture and expanding and improving the quality of Japanese-language education at the elementary and secondary levels in the U.S.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Goff. “It provided me with first-hand knowledge of the Japanese culture and educational system, and I look forward to sharing what I observed with others around the state.”

Many group activities were scheduled in Tokyo and other major Japanese cities during the tour. Lectures, visits to the Japanese Language Institute and various cultural facilities, school visits, discussions with school principals and other education officials, and the opportunity to attend a Kabuki play were a few items on the nine-day itinerary.

Additional coverage here.

Photos of Jane's Japan Trip

March 2010
State Board Member Jane Goff Receives Friend Of Foreign Languages Award By The Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers

  Colorado State Board of Education Member Jane Goff
  was recognized last week for her contributions to the
  teaching and learning of world languages. The Colorado
  Congress of Foreign Language Teachers presented Goff
  with the Friend of Foreign Languages Award at the
  group’s annual spring conference on Feb. 25 in Colorado
  Springs.

  “Jane is a highly committed and outstanding professional
  leader who influences the lives and the community of
  Colorado educators and students,” said Janine Erickson
  and Toni Theisen, State World Language Advisory
  Council Co-Chairs in their nomination of Goff to the CCFLT Awards Committee. “She truly demonstrates that education is her highest priority. Her energy for educational success for all is indeed strong, sincere and determined.”

Goff, a resident of Arvada, represents the 7th Congressional District on the Colorado State Board of Education. She is both a graduate and a retired employee of Jefferson County Public Schools, where she enjoyed a 34-year career as a classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator and association leader. Goff taught middle and high school French and Spanish from 1972 until 2003, when she was appointed Jeffco’s Coordinator of World Languages and International Student Exchange.

Goff serves as the state board's liaison to the State World Language Advisory Council and regularly attends its annual meeting, often participating in panel discussions and presenting her view from the state level perspective. This year Goff provided valuable insight and advice to the world language teachers as they wrote the new Colorado Model Content Standards for World Languages.