Southern Regional Education Board

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves was reelected chair of the SREB board. Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith of Kentucky was reelected vice chair and Rep. Bruce Cozart of Arkansas was elected treasurer.

The SREB Legislative Advisory Council elected Sen. Brian Pettyjohn of Delaware chair and Rep. Kent McCarty of Mississippi vice chair.

Read the full announcement: https://ow.ly/HsWv50ZbSFQ

At the Southern Regional Education Board Annual Meeting in Charlotte, Sen. Dave Sokola (DE) was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award for his significant contributions to regional education policy and student opportunity.

Joining the board in 1998, Sen. Sokola is SREB’s longest-serving board member. Over nearly three decades of service, he has guided policy through numerous key initiatives, including the commissions on AI in education, college affordability and computer science.

“Sen. Sokola embodies the true spirit of dedicated public service. He understands that strengthening education requires a long-term commitment and a focus on building consensus. His work sets a standard for leadership in our region.” — SREB board vice chair Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith

We commend Sen. Sokola for his extraordinary public service, his leadership within the Delaware Senate and his lasting impact on educational excellence across the 16-state SREB region.

Read the full announcement: sreb.org/senator-sokola-honored

At the Southern Regional Education Board Annual Meeting in Charlotte, former Sen. Bob Plymale (WV) was recognized with both the SREB Distinguished Service Award and the Jack Hill Champion of Education Award.

A board member since 2003 and former board treasurer, Sen. Plymale has spent over two decades shaping regional education policy. Notably, he originated the idea for the Jack Hill award in 2020 to honor leaders who demonstrate a long-term commitment to civility and public service.

“For more than two decades, Sen. Plymale brought steady, principled leadership to SREB, serving on our Executive Committee and as board treasurer. His generosity with his time across our commissions reflected a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for students across the region, and we are grateful for his dedicated service." —SREB President Valerie Greenhill

We commend Sen. Plymale for his deep dedication to West Virginia students and his lasting impact on educational excellence across the SREB region.

Read the full announcement:

Move past the AI hype. See the pedagogy.

Artificial intelligence in education is often discussed in abstract theories or sweeping predictions. But what does it actually look like when intentional technology meets a live classroom?

We sat down with eight outstanding educators from across our region to find out. From high school biology labs to elementary media centers, these teachers aren’t just using tech—they are using it as a thought partner to enhance student agency, design deeper critical thinking tasks and create truly personalized learning experiences.

Swipe through the carousel to meet a few of the educators leading the way, and find out how they are balancing the demands of modern classrooms without losing their creative voice.

👉 Explore the full collection of real-world teacher blueprints, lesson strategies and student projects at sreb.org/stories-teaching-ai

Professional learning shouldn’t feel like a lecture.

When you spend days away from your school or district, every single session needs to deliver immediate, real-world value.

That is why we design the Making Schools Work Conference to be completely impactful. On July 14-17 in Nashville, we are bringing together thousands of K-12 educators, principals and workforce leaders for a week that balances deep technical strategy with hands-on, collaborative experiences.

Whether you want to dive into the latest education hot topics, crack an educational escape room or build fidget spinners for local schools, you can customize the entire week to match your unique professional goals.

👉 Swipe through the carousel to see 5 reasons educators return every summer, then plan your experience at sreb.org/conference.

SREB's 2026 Annual Meeting of the Board and Legislative Work Conference is underway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Governors, legislators and education leaders from across the South are gathering to focus on priorities for education in an AI-informed economy.

Leaders are addressing regional needs­ — including educator workforce development, career pathways, early learning and childcare, and sustainable education funding ­— and building on the work of SREB’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence in Education and Commission on Career Pathways and Credentials.

Follow along for updates.

Upskilling for AI doesn't happen overnight. We recommend a phased approach that grows with educator and student fluency over time:

- Phase 1: Building Awareness – Shifting focus to administrative work, basic planning and understanding large language models.
- Phase 2: Educator Exploration – Navigating data privacy, sharpening prompting skills and understanding how AI uses data.
- Phase 3: Application for Learning – Transitioning to student use, supporting critical thinking and designing project-based units.
- Phase 4: Iterating for Fluency – Continuously adapting school toolboxes and cultivating a culture of responsible technology use.

By starting with curiosity and moving toward student-centered pedagogy, schools can harness AI to enrich teaching in truly meaningful ways.

👉 Swipe through the carousel to see the breakdown of each phase, and visit the link below to download the full report from the SREB Commission on AI in Education!

https://www.sreb.org/post/considerations-designing-ai-professional-learning-educators

We are busy finalizing the program content and prepping behind the scenes for the Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville, July 14-17! Every year, our goal is to move past the abstract and provide educators with concrete, actionable strategies they can bring straight back to their schools and districts.

As we put the finishing touches on this year's lineup, we want to know what drives your professional learning:

- The Big Topic: What is the number one challenge or opportunity facing your school right now that you hope to explore in Nashville?
- The Collaboration: Are you attending solo to bring back insights to your team, or are you traveling with a district cohort to map out a collective game plan?
- The Networking: What is your favorite way to connect with fellow educators between sessions? (Hallway chats, evening meetups or sharing notes over breakfast?)

Let us know what you are looking to bring back to your community this summer!

https://www.sreb.org/conference

We are officially weeks away from the Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville, July 14-17! As you start looking at your calendar and thinking about packing, we want to know how you prepare for a week of professional growth.

Help us out in the comments:

1. The Essentials: What is the one non-negotiable item you always pack for a summer conference? (Comfortable walking shoes? A dedicated notebook? A light jacket for chilly session rooms?)
2. The Game Plan: How do you map out your schedule? Do you stick strictly to your specific track, or do you like to surprise yourself with a few wildcard sessions?
3. The Southern Eats: We are still building our culinary bucket list for Music City. If you have a go-to Nashville dining spot, drop the name below!

Whether this is your first time attending or you are a seasoned veteran, let us know how you are getting ready for an inspiring week in July.

Learn more here: https://www.sreb.org/conference