NJSBA’s Belluscio Wins
National School Boards Award

The National School Boards Association on Saturday honored Frank Belluscio, NJSBA’s communications director, with the 2010 Thomas A. Shannon Award for Excellence in School Boards Association Leadership.

Frank accepted the award, given each year to an outstanding individual from a state school boards association, at a luncheon with more than 200 colleagues and other education leaders at the annual NSBA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The award, named in honor of former NSBA executive director Thomas A. Shannon, was established in 1997.

Frank was nominated by Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA’s executive director.

“In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” an angel named Clarence tries to show George Bailey how different his hometown of Bedford Falls would be had he not been a part of it,” she wrote in her nomination letter to NSBA. “Public education in New Jersey would likely be different had it not been for the decades of service of Frank Belluscio.”

Frank began his NJSBA career in 1979 as a writer, and since 1996 he has directed the association’s communications team. His achievements are many, including:

• NJSBA is viewed by the media as a trusted source of information. Frank has led research and information campaigns that have had a positive impact on school construction funding and local school governance.
• He has conducted multiple public information campaigns, with successful outcomes on all. His efforts have helped voters understand and support education spending.
• Each year, he oversees best practices programs including the School Leader Award, which recognizes effective curriculum, and “Innovations in Special Education,” which spotlights creative and successful programs for children with disabilities.
• He tapped U.S. Department of Education data to effectively counter claims that the state’s local school boards do not direct sufficient resources to the classroom.

Anne L. Bryant, NSBA’s executive director, said Frank is well known as an effective communications director and advocate for public education. “He and his team have led very credible public campaigns throughout the state to inform the citizens of New Jersey about the importance of supporting their schools,” she said.

Marie Bilik’s nomination noted that Frank would be the first to acknowledge the hard work of his colleagues and numerous school officials.

Stated Bilik, “In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Clarence the angel tells George Bailey, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives.”

“Bedford Falls had George Bailey. New Jersey’s schools have Frank Belluscio.”

In his remarks thanking the NSBA, Belluscio credited New Jersey’s board members. “The movies that Frank Capra directed capture American community principles. Our small towns may be disappearing, but those small-town principles still exist.

“The work of boards of education takes place at the community level, and that work has resulted in a universal system of public education that is truly the strength of our nation.

“For the past 30 years, it has been an honor to work for people—local school board members—who give so much time and effort, who receive a lot of undeserved criticism, and who make sacrifices because of their belief in public education. When your role is to support people with those principles, your job is an easy one.”

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