Jane Barnes, Jefferson County Public Schools Board of Education member, was named president-elect of the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) at the association's annual board retreat this month. Her term as president will begin in December 2007.

Barnes, president of the Jeffco Schools Board of Education since 2003, has a long history of giving back to the Jefferson County community. Barnes is the Manager of Senior Programs at St. Anthony Hospitals, a Kiwanis member and serves on the Tri-County Workforce Board. In the past, she was active on various school committees and boards. Barnes and her husband Ben have lived in Jefferson County for 15 years. Their children, Andrew, Allison, Abigail and Ben, all attended Colorado public schools.

Barnes is passionate about providing the best education to all children. Specifically, she focuses on the unique challenges a new worldwide economy brings.

"It is the board of education's job to remember that children, our children, are the focus of what we do every day," said Barnes in a recent speech to CASB's Board of Directors. "Our goal is to create well-educated, well-prepared students who are ready to meet the demands of the 21 st century. Students need to be prepared for whatever happens-the things we can control and those we can't."

The Colorado Association of School Boards provides leadership, advocacy, training and services for effective school governance that leads to high student achievement. All 178 Colorado school districts are CASB members. An 18-member board comprised of representative school board members throughout the state governs the association.

Barnes is the president of the five-member Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education which is the largest school district in the state responsible for more than 85,000 students and 153 schools.

Veronica Bennett is with the communications services department of Jefferson County Public Schools.