NASHVILLE-Charlotte Jones Mims joined an elite group recently as one of 19 school board members from across Tennessee who achieved Level V, Master Board status.

Mims, who chairs the Newport Board of Education, was recognized during the Tennessee School Boards Association's annual banquet in Nashville.

School board members who earn this honor must have a clear understanding of their duties and of their central, powerful role of providing leadership to ensure the quality of education, understand the importance of teamwork, exhibit support for the district's programs and staff, particularly in public, and work together through established channels to effect change, understand, appreciate, and respect the role of the superintendent, the district staff and all other members of the community, and operate with fairness, firmness, stability, and consistency.

To encourage local school board members to improve their service to their communities, TSBA established a boardsmanship awards program.

Board members must participate in a variety of activities designed to broaden their insights and deepen their wisdom and must fulfill requirements on five levels.

At the end of the program, candidates must submit a portfolio, which details their work as a board member and helps the evaluation committee assess the member's effectiveness in the areas of policy, planning, and promotion.

Evaluators consider a school board member's efforts in the area of policy-making, planning, and promotion. '

A total of 30 points are available. In order to earn Master Board Member designation, a member must earn 25 points.     

Mims was elected to the Newport Board of Education in 2000 and was recently re-elected chairman of the board.

A retired teacher herself, she is the daughter of the late Fred and Elizabeth (Stokely) Jones. Her mother once taught school in Cocke County.

Mims is the widow of the late William "Bud" Mims. All three of the couple's children-Lisa Mims Cope, Shari Mims Perryman, and the late William Fred Mims-entered the teaching profession as well.

In speaking of her achievement, Mims said, "I feel all board members should take advantage of all the seminars and learning opportunities offered so that we will become better board members."