California’s public schools are a vast business operated by tens of thousands of professionals committed to improving the education system. Founded in 1918, the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is a nonprofit membership organization representing more than 25,000 professionals across 1,100 school districts statewide.
“I want California’s school business professionals to be recognized for the critical roles they play in ensuring our public schools deliver on the promise of a high-quality education,” says Tatia Davenport, CEO. “These are the professionals behind the state’s public schools’ budget of $118 billion, facilities of 125,000 acres and 471 million square feet, student nutrition of 200 million meals annually, busing and student transportation of 115 million miles annually, and so much more.”
Davenport is known as a leader of authenticity and passion. “I’m driven by the concept of adding more value to public education and for our members,” Davenport says. “I oversee CASBO’s activities and vision with a mission of bringing all parties and components together to create a new vision for public education. I also strive to usher more diverse perspectives into the public school system, making room at the table for everyone.”
“I want California’s school business professionals to be recognized for the critical roles they play in ensuring our public schools deliver on the promise of a high-quality education.” Tatia Davenport, CEO
CASBO serves members as the foremost authority on school business within three main purposes: to educate, advocate and facilitate professional networking. Among CASBO’s 24 employees are a professional development team to promote career development, training and certification, and an advocacy team to help assess state bills and amplify members’ voices.
Professional positions within the public school system provide very viable careers and CASBO prepares people to excel and succeed in these important roles. Looking ahead, Davenport says, “One of our goals will be thoughtful investment into school business infrastructure because it’s impossible to achieve our academic vision of the future with outdated infrastructure. We will work toward that through corporate partnerships and collaboration with the education community as a whole.”
