Ms. Pamela Dukes, Mrs. Beth Wood, Ms. Jennifer Blackburn and Mr. Steve Screeton, Mr. Todd Buckmaster and Mr. Tim Hines, school board members for East Allen County Schools, have been recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) with an Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) for calendar year 2025 for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to student success and professional learning.
· Pamela Dukes – Level 1 Commendable
· Beth Wood – Level 2 Advanced
· Jennifer Blackburn – Level 3 Distinguished
· Steve Screeton – Level 4 Exemplary
· Todd Buckmaster and Tim Hines – Honor Roll
These board members are four of only 314 school board members in the State of Indiana to earn an award through the EGA program this year.
The awards are conferred annually by ISBA across four levels of distinction, based on points earned for attending ISBA seminars, workshops, conferences, and other learning events. This year’s group of honorees includes 124 Commendable Awards (Level 1), 71 Advanced Awards (Level 2), 60 Distinguished Awards (Level 3), and 59 Exemplary Awards (Level 4).
“On behalf of ISBA, I would like to commend this dedicated group of school board members,” said ISBA Executive Director Terry Spradlin. “School boards perform a vital public service, and members who actively participate in professional learning are better equipped to govern effectively and meet the needs of students.”
Award recipients were formally recognized at ISBA’s Spring Regional Meetings during the month of April.
In addition to the individual accolades, 120 school boards earned board-level awards, which are based on the points earned by each school board member, as well as the completion of certain additional criteria, such as a retreat with an outside facilitator and goal setting to elevate student achievement outcomes.
“We are proud to celebrate these school board members for their exceptional leadership in the pursuit of excellence in education,” said ISBA President Steve Corona.
ISBA provides its members with a full range of professional learning opportunities. At dozens of events throughout the year, ISBA informs and educates board members about governance best practices, legislative advocacy, policy, school law, and more. More than 115 hours of professional development were available from ISBA for members in 2025.