There are certain moments in life you will always remember. The first time I took the stage at CSBA’s Annual Education Conference was undoubtedly one of those moments. I remember staring out into a sea of faces, a huge audience filled with many old friends and thousands of people I had never met. I recall thinking what an awesome responsibility had been given to each and every person in that room, and how our shared purpose brought together so many different people from so many walks of life. No matter where we called home, how old we were, where we worked or what we looked like, we shared a common bond — a commitment to the education and welfare of California’s students.

At times like this, when the country seems divided and the conversation around schools is so fiercely partisan, it is helpful to reflect on our common bond and remember that what unites us is greater than what divides us. No matter what you see on the news, what happens in our State Legislature or the nation’s capital, all the same reasons that inspired you to run for school board still exist. And believe it or not, most of your colleagues had similar reasons for pursuing this demanding and sometimes unforgiving job. There’s very little glamour in serving as a school trustee, and even less money, but there is boundless opportunity — the opportunity to provide every child a fair shot in life, to give back to your community and to build a better future. These are noble goals. These are American goals. These are universal goals.

When your name appeared on the ballot for local school board, it was followed by the term “nonpartisan,” not “Democrat” or “Republican,” and that is no accident. A school board is a public trust that must rise above partisanship. As stewards of the community’s most valuable resource, you have a higher calling. Nothing is more insidious for a school board than conflict that prioritizes partisan loyalty over service to students. It causes communities to lose faith in the board, or worse, to turn against one another. Students, staff and families get caught in the crossfire and the resulting dysfunction can destabilize school environments, detract from the core mission and send school districts and county offices of education adrift.

I will acknowledge that pledging to find common ground is easier than doing it. But like anything meaningful, it is worth the effort. School boards that prioritize collaboration over confrontation are better equipped to serve their students effectively and more likely to produce positive outcomes. When board members remember the “why” behind their work, focus on shared objectives, actively listen, engage in respectful debate and apply generosity of spirit when judging the intentions of their peers, they can govern in ways that reflects the best interests of their communities rather than the worst instincts of national politics.

CSBA’s agenda is intentionally nonpartisan and transcends changes in political offices or administrations. The desire for strong, effective public schools remains an overwhelmingly popular goal on both sides of the aisle. True, there will always be disagreement and occasional conflict, but our work is too important, and the stakes are too high for school boards to become battlegrounds for political discord. We are stronger together. In the words of Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Now is the time for school board members to reaffirm their commitment to all students and to find common ground in these uncommon times.