School Board Trainings
LEAD the Future
Our LEAD the Future candidate training curriculum is specifically for School Board candidates.
LEAD the Future trainings are available to those who are planning to run for school board or want to support school board campaigns. These individual one-day trainings are held virtually and in-person.
The trainings cover the following information and more!
Key School Board Issues
School Board members’ responsibilities
Building relationships with stakeholders
Messaging for School Board
Communicating your values
Connecting with voters
Messaging around hot topic school board issues
Nuts and Bolts of Campaigning for School Board
Proven fundraising methods
Campaign compliance
Voter outreach, persuasion, and turnout
Running as a Slate
Ways to coordinate with your fellow candidates
Intro to Running for School Board
2026 Virtual Training Dates
Monday, April 27
Virtual
6:30 pm - 8 pm
Monday, May 18
Virtual
6:30 pm - 8 pm
Monday, June 29
Virtual
6:30 pm - 8 pm
GLPA is partnering with the Michigan Education Justice Coalition for an introductory look at
How to Run for School Board.
In the one and a half hour virtual training, we’ll discuss:
- Who makes decisions in our schools?
- An overview of our healthy and healing schools platform
- The most pressing issues facing school districts today, including mental health, school safety, and ongoing equity challenges with school funding
- We will also hear from currently serving school board representatives.
Full LEAD the Future Trainings
for School Board candidates
2026 Dates
Thursday, February 12
Plymouth, Wayne County
5 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, June 13
Lansing, Ingham County
10 am - 3 pm
Saturday, July 25
Oakland County
10 am - 3 pm
Saturday, June 27
Grand Rapids, Kent County
10 am - 3 pm
Saturday, May 30
Virtual ONLINE
10 am - 3 pm
Saturday, August 15
Virtual ONLINE
10 am - 3 pm
Candidates accepted into the training will be notified by GLPA staff via email.
As a 501(c)4, GLPA-LEAD is required to charge for candidate trainings.
The training fee for our LEAD the Future series is $25.
If cost is a barrier, please let us know as there are scholarship opportunities available.
For questions about our LEAD the Future program, email Kevin Johnson, our Recruitment and Training Manager.