NASBE Honors State Board of Education Members from the District of Columbia, Illinois, and Nebraska with National Public Service Award

Alexandria, VA – The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to education by state board members from the District of Columbia, Illinois, and Nebraska. This prestigious award honors three outstanding board leaders each year and represents NASBE’s highest accolade for state board members.

Eboni-Rose Thompson has served on the DC State Board of Education since 2020 and is the current president. She also was the vice president and a member of the Governance Committee. Thompson has been an active member of NASBE’s Public Education Positions (PEP) Committee since 2021.

As DC board president, Thompson has shown great capacity as a community leader and advocate for high-quality, equitable education. She spearheaded a citywide engagement effort to propose community-informed changes to the district’s education governance structure. She and her board peers have advanced school safety measures, passing Resolution SR22-13 on Public Safety, which created the School Safety Enhancement Committee. She has also been instrumental to the board’s elevated visibility, organizing regular cross-agency meetings with key education and government stakeholders.

“These efforts have strengthened our interagency collaboration and positioned the DC state board at the center of crucial policy discussions,” said Bernice Butler, the board’s executive director.

In addition to her state board service, Thompson has been deeply involved in community-level education efforts. She has chaired the Ward 7 Education Council since 2012, working to improve educational outcomes for students of color. She also secured annual increases in the public education budget, organized back-to-school resource fairs and giveaways, and secured over $6.7 million to modernize the Benning Stoddert Recreation Center and four underserved schools. She volunteers as a literacy tutor and has helped reinstate funding for DC’s community schools.

Christine Benson is serving her second term on the Illinois State Board of Education, where she is the board’s secretary, and chair of the Finance Committee. She served on several NASBE committees and concluded a term as chair of the NASBE board in 2023. She earlier served as a NASBE central area director.

A strong advocate for career and technical education (CTE), Benson has championed the development and funding of CTE pathways as vital options for students. She played a key role in ensuring that changes to the state funding formula equitably supported CTE programs. Her efforts contributed to a $10 million increase for CTE funding in the state budget. Benson also supported Illinois’s Literacy Plan, securing funds for high-quality professional development for administrators and teachers statewide.

“Chris’s leadership in these areas and others is extremely valuable for influencing locally elected officials,” said Steven Isoye, chair of the Illinois state board. “Her dedication to ‘getting it right’ for the children of our state has always been a top priority.”

A retired educator with 35 years of experience, Benson has served as a music teacher, school administrator, and superintendent. Her commitment to equity has been crucial in shaping Illinois’s strategic plan for education and the Illinois Association of School Administrators’ Vision 20/20, which expanded funding for schools in an equitable manner, updated the teacher workforce, and ensured practicing educators played a more prominent role in education policymaking.

Lisa Fricke, elected to the Nebraska State Board of Education in 2016, is serving her second and final term. Fricke is chair of her board’s Rules and Regulations Committee, a member of the Budget and Finance Committee, and has contributed to the Executive and Planning and Evaluation Committees.

Fricke’s 36-year career as a public school teacher highlights her deep commitment to education. She frequently speaks at state education conferences, including those hosted by the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, Nebraska Association of School Boards, Nebraska Council of School Administrators, and Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA). In retirement, Fricke remains active with the NSEA, advocating for the teaching profession.

Serving the needs of children, families, and teachers is central to Fricke’s board work. She engages with stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard and advocates for key issues, such as special education, early childhood education, career and technical education, and support for Native American students and children of military families. She recently led efforts in the state to remove barriers to the teaching profession and regularly encourages young people and career changers to become educators.

“Lisa is a thoughtful, considerate board member who listens to and respects the perspectives of her peers, whether she agrees with them or not. Her teaching career and ongoing commitment to public service testify to her dedication to education and to why she is so deserving of this honor,” said Elizabeth Tegtmeier, president of the Nebraska state board.

A dedicated NASBE member, Fricke has twice chaired NASBE’s PEP Committee and frequently participates in NASBE’s learning sessions, state networks, and conferences. She was recently honored by her alma mater, Wayne State College, with an outstanding alumni award for her work in education and counseling.

“The dedication and leadership of Eboni-Rose, Chris, and Lisa are truly exemplary,” NASBE President and CEO Paolo DeMaria said. “Their unwavering commitment to improving public education for teachers, students, and families sets a high standard for board service. We are proud to honor their outstanding contributions with Distinguished Service Awards.”

The 2024 awards will be presented at NASBE’s Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, October 23–25.

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