Mrs. Shakila Henderson-Baker, District 3 representative for the Newton County Board of Education, was recently elected by the Georgia School Boards Association’s (GSBA) Board of Directors to fulfill the remaining term of District 4. The term was vacated by Ms. Katrina Young, who was elected Vice-President of the GSBA Board of Directors. As the District 4 Director, Ms. Henderson-Baker will represent Newton, Rockdale, DeKalb, and Decatur City school systems on the GSBA Board of Directors. GSBA’s 14 district directors represent the collective resolve of the 180 elected boards of education in the state of Georgia.

“We are extremely pleased to have Shakila Henderson-Baker join our Board of Directors,” said GSBA Executive Director Valarie Wilson. “This is an important role and one that demands a high level of leadership.”

The Georgia School Boards Association has been serving local school boards for over 60 years by providing leadership, advocacy, and professional services and training to the state’s local boards of education. GSBA advocates for public education and supports local control of public school systems. GSBA duties include managing the affairs of the organization, setting legislative priorities, and ensuring excellence in the governance of local school systems.

“I am extremely grateful to be representing the Newton, Rockdale, DeKalb, and City Schools of Decatur on the Board of Directors of GSBA,” said Ms. Henderson-Baker. “As a product of Georgia’s public education school system, a mother of 2 children in the public school system, and an advocate for the thousands of boys and girls in our schools, I am passionate about how our school systems are portrayed, their ability to keep quality teachers, and what type of supports our schools need and should be receiving to help them achieve and sustain a quality education for all students served.”