Director of Legal and Policy Services
About the Virginia School Boards Association
Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA), which is in Charlottesville, is a voluntary, nonpartisan organization of Virginia school boards which promotes excellence in public education by providing leadership, advocacy, and support for our members. VSBA has been in existence since 1906 and takes pride in the role we have played in supporting local school boards and school board members for over 116 years. You can obtain more information about the organization at vsba.org.
VSBA’s membership is currently comprised of 125 school boards in Virginia, from Accomack County (on the Eastern Shore) to Lee County (which borders Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina) and from Frederick County in northern Virginia to Halifax County in the southern part of the state. Each of our member school boards is different, but each shares a passion for educating the children of Virginia.
There is no typical day at VSBA. The VSBA staff is small, and everyone pitches in to make sure everything gets done. The Director of Legal and Policy Services spends a considerable amount of time in one-on-one conversations with school board members and superintendents. The Director also provides information to our members by speaking at conferences, workshops and conducting webinars. Those conversations always respect the fact that school boards receive legal advice from their own counsel. Working with the lawyers who represent our members is an important part of the job, as is working with other organizations that also provide support for school boards and school staff. The Director also reviews and updates sample policies designed to help school boards comply with relevant state and federal laws and provides those sample policies to school boards which are members of VSBA Policy Services. The work is demanding but rewarding.
To Join Our Team
We are looking for an excellent communicator who will enjoy speaking with school board members from across the state who have a wide variety of backgrounds that have led them to serve on their local school boards.
You must be admitted to practice law in Virginia, be in good standing with the Virginia State Bar. We offer competitive salary and benefits. Salary will be commensurate with experience. VSBA offers excellent health care benefits for employees and their families and provides generous contributions to a retirement plan.
Tell us who you are and how you see yourself fitting into VSBA by submitting, in confidence, a cover letter and resume to Gina Patterson, Executive Director, at gina@vsba.org. Please note, information must be emailed to gina@vsba.org to be considered for the position. Applications sent through other methods will not be considered.
