Board of Education Receives Governance Team Award
The School District of Washington Board of Education is among 26 Missouri school boards earning the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s 2026 Governance Team Award.
This prestigious award is based on the outstanding commitment of the school board and superintendent to ongoing professional development in effective governance practices. The award also recognizes their commitment to regional and statewide leadership and to active participation in legislative advocacy for public schools and the students they serve.
Board of Education members recognized for the award were Dr. Frank Wood (President), Kelly Brinkmann (Vice President), Kevin Blackburn, John Freitag, Dan Leslie, Bob Oreskovic and Rob Horvath. Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart also was included for the award.
Board of Education current members are Wood, Brinkmann, Blackburn, Freitag, Leslie, Emma Menefee and Tiffany Stecko.
The school board in each awarded district achieved the following criteria:
*The district is fully accredited.
*All seven school board members completed the Essential new board member certification from MSBA.
*All seven board members fulfilled the Refresher Training requirement for the current year through MSBA.
*At least two board members attained the Advanced level of certification from MSBA.
*At least one board member attained the Master level of certification.
*At least a quorum of the board and the superintendent attended the 2025 MSBA Annual Conference and a regional meeting during the past year.
*A representative attended the 2026 MSBA Advocacy Day.
*A board member representative participated in MSBA’s Delegate Assembly.
The school boards and superintendents receiving the award were recognized during MSBA’s Summer Summit held June 14-16 at Osage Beach.
The School District of Washington Board of Education received the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s 2026 Governance Team Award. Pictured from left are board member Kelly Brinkmann, Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart, and board members Dr. Frank Wood and John Freitag.