ARTICLE
Joel Rodriguez, school board member for the School City of East Chicago, has been elected Chair of the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). CUBE is a national membership organization dedicated to empowering urban school board leaders in public education. A program of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), CUBE supports school board members from diverse, urban, and urban-like communities across the nation, serving nearly eight million students. Through seminars, conferences, research, and advocacy, CUBE fosters innovative solutions to the unique challenges of urban education and creates an environment for urban school leaders to network, collaborate, and learn. Joel has served on the School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees since 2013. Throughout his tenure on the local school board, he has championed initiatives that support teachers and staff, ensuring they have the resources necessary to improve student outcomes. He is a dedicated advocate for quality education for all students. He promotes community engagement by initiating regular outreach to businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders, inviting them to partner with the local schools. Joel firmly believes in the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.” His term as Chair of the CUBE Steering Committee runs through the conclusion of the 2027 NSBA Annual Conference. An active member of NSBA since 2013, Joel’s new leadership role marks the latest milestone in a rewarding and enriching involvement with the national organization. He previously served as a Regional Director for NSBA’s National Hispanic Council and later as a Steering Committee Member for CUBE. Now, as CUBE Chair, he is eager and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with NSBA, its dedicated staff, and its outstanding Executive Director and CEO, Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. According to NSBA bylaws, Joel, as CUBE Chair, will also serve as an ex officio voting member on the NSBA Board of Directors. “As we look ahead, much work is needed to ensure that public education remains strong and accessible,” Joel says. “We must continue advocating for public education and its vital role in shaping our future. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the future of public education for generations to come.” ###
Joel Rodriguez, school board member for the School City of East Chicago, has been elected Chair of the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE).
CUBE is a national membership organization dedicated to empowering urban school board leaders in public education. A program of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), CUBE supports school board members from diverse, urban, and urban-like communities across the nation, serving nearly eight million students. Through seminars, conferences, research, and advocacy, CUBE fosters innovative solutions to the unique challenges of urban education and creates an environment for urban school leaders to network, collaborate, and learn.
Joel has served on the School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees since 2013. Throughout his tenure on the local school board, he has championed initiatives that support teachers and staff, ensuring they have the resources necessary to improve student outcomes. He is a dedicated advocate for quality education for all students. He promotes community engagement by initiating regular outreach to businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders, inviting them to partner with the local schools. Joel firmly believes in the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
His term as Chair of the CUBE Steering Committee runs through the conclusion of the 2027 NSBA Annual Conference. An active member of NSBA since 2013, Joel’s new leadership role marks the latest milestone in a rewarding and enriching involvement with the national organization. He previously served as a Regional Director for NSBA’s National Hispanic Council and later as a Steering Committee Member for CUBE. Now, as CUBE Chair, he is eager and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with NSBA, its dedicated staff, and its outstanding Executive Director and CEO, Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. According to NSBA bylaws, Joel, as CUBE Chair, will also serve as an ex officio voting member on the NSBA Board of Directors.
“As we look ahead, much work is needed to ensure that public education remains strong and accessible,” Joel says. “We must continue advocating for public education and its vital role in shaping our future. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the future of public education for generations to come.”
###