About Seats of Change: The Future of School Boards
Seats of Change: The Future of School Boards – Explores the crucial role of local governance through the lens of school boards. Through insightful interviews with current and former school board members, researchers, and practitioners, we highlight their experiences campaigning, serving, and driving equity, and reveal how their work at the grassroots level builds the foundation of our democracy.
seatsofchange.substack.com (https://seatsofchange.substack.com/s/seats-of-change?utm_medium=podcast)
Re-taking the reins: Receivership to local control with Devin Sheehan
In this episode, we’re joined by 16-year Holyoke School Committee (MA) veteran Devin Sheehan—who also served as President of both the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and the National School Board Association. Drawing on his unique perspective spanning municipal boardrooms to national policy circles, Sheehan breaks down the realities of state receivership and the preparations for a successful return to local control. The conversation expands to the logistics of providing board services across a state, national trends shaping school boards across the country, and how shifting federal administrations impact local district policies. To wrap up, Sheehan reflects on the ultimate reminder of why this work matters: the joy and lasting impact of high school graduation day.
Resources:
* Holyoke Public Schools to resume local governance on July 1, 2025 (letter) (https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/article/2282023)
* Massachusetts Association of School Committees (https://www.masc.org/)
* National School Board Association (https://www.nsba.org/home)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seatsofchange.substack.com (https://seatsofchange.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
15 Sept 2026
Full voting power: Student rights and responsibilities with Brayden Morgan
In this episode, we sit down with Brayden Morgan, a former Student Member of the Board (SMOB) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland. Representing over 85,000 students, Brayden breaks down what it takes to run a countywide campaign, build a lasting infrastructure for student advocacy, and navigate the weight of holding full voting rights—a power unique to Anne Arundel County’s student board members. Find the episode on Apple, Spotify, and Substack under Seats of Change: The Future of School Boards.
Resources:
* Anne Arundel Student Member of the Board information (http://www.aacps.org/smob).
* Glen Burnie student Brayden Morgan ends year as Anne Arundel County’s voting school board member. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9tmfFRUawk)(2026, Jun 26). WMAR-2 News.
* National Student Board Member Association (https://www.nsbma.net/)
* Vote at 16 Research Network (https://www.vote16research.org/)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seatsofchange.substack.com (https://seatsofchange.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
1 Sept 2026
From classroom to boardroom: How student governance shapes future leaders with Sabi Yoon
In this episode Sabi Yoon, a former student representative for Seattle Public Schools, explores the real mechanics and transformative potential of youth governance. Sabi shares her firsthand experience navigating complex board dynamics—including high-stakes discussions surrounding School Resource Officers (SROs) in schools and how board decisions directly impact the daily lives of the student body. She breaks down why Seattle's student board member policy required a critical update to move from a symbolic role toward clear, actionable responsibilities. Sabi highlights the personal ways board service reshaped her own leadership outlook.
Resources:
Gordon, N. (2018). Disproportionality in student discipline: Connecting policy to research. (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/disproportionality-in-student-discipline-connecting-policy-to-research/) Brookings.
National Student School Board Association, https://www.nsbma.net/about (https://www.nsbma.net/about)
Seattle Public Schools, Student Representative. (https://www.seattleschools.org/about/school-board/student-representatives/)
Welburn Paige, J., & Bushway, S. (2024). The role and impact of School Resource Officers. (https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/essays/school-resource-officers.html) RAND.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seatsofchange.substack.com (https://seatsofchange.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.5 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 2 / 100
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4
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YouTube
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