Longtime Marietta Public Schools Board of Education Member Frank Lornes has been named to the OSSBA’s All-State School Board and chosen to receive the Buddy Spencer Leadership Award.
The All-State Board of Education is an honorary board that includes five of the most outstanding school board members chosen from the approximately 2,500 elected state school board members. From the five All-State Board members, one is chosen to receive the Buddy Spencer award. That member is one who demonstrates leadership on a local/state level along with the dedication to continually improve his/her boardsmanship.
These awards are among the highest that an elected local school board member can receive, and, according to Marietta Public Schools Superintendent Brandi Naylor, are well deserved.
“Frank Lornes is a steadfast figure in our district and is a true servant leader,” Naylor said. “He always puts the well-being of our staff, teachers, and students first when making decisions for the district. We are incredibly thankful to have someone like him serving on our Board of Education.”
Lornes has served as a board member at Marietta for 35 years – 27 of those years as board president. He was encouraged to run for an open spot on the board in 1988 by Karen O’Connor.
“Karen approached me and told me it was time to get involved and give back to my community,” Lornes said. “I was a kid from Dunbar, and I didn’t think I had much to offer, but I do love kids and, after everything that Marietta had done for me, I wanted to see what I could do to help.”
During his years of service, Lornes has seen drastic changes in public education, from the rise in importance of technology, to the decrease in teacher candidate pools and everything in between. But the one thing that has remained a constant is his desire to make the best choices for the students and staff of the school district.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be on a school board,” he laughed. “All it takes is a servant’s heart, the desire to see kids excel, and the willingness to do what it takes to make that happen. Thick skin doesn’t hurt, either, because you have to know that even though you’re making the best decisions you can make, they’re not always going to make everyone happy.”
In his estimation, the best part of being a school board member – arguably an often-thankless task – is the opportunity to invest his time and efforts into the lives of so many students and become a very, very small part of their success.
Lornes, humble to a fault, certainly hasn’t served his community for 35 years for the accolades. And unsurprisingly, he had little to say when he was informed of his impending honors.
“I don’t deserve this,” he remarked, “but I do appreciate it.”