History

1937
The North Carolina School Boards Association is founded by Guy Phillips, dean of the School of Education at UNC Chapel Hill. He serves as executive secretary until 1966.

1937 – 1971
The association is housed at the School of Education in Peabody Hall on the UNC-CH campus. Part-time employees and graduate students devote their time as the association’s staff.

1958
165 of 174 local boards of education are now members of the association.

1966
Raleigh Dingman, one of Phillip’s former graduate students, becomes the association’s first full-time executive secretary.

1971
Following a financial and program review by NSBA, the association offices move to the Sir Walter Hotel in Raleigh. The move positioned the association to represent school boards more effectively before the General Assembly and the State Board of Education.

1973
Dingman is named the association’s first executive director. During his tenure, he sees 100 percent of the local boards become members.

Mid 1970s
The association moves into the Wake County Office Building.

1979
The association takes residence in the Albert Coates Government Center.

1980
Gene Causby becomes the new executive director following Dingman’s death. Under his efforts, the services of the organization increase.

1982
The North Carolina School Boards Trust division is established. The staff grows to 11, including an associate executive director and a director of policy and research.

1985
Association headquarters is moved to Edenton Street in downtown Raleigh. Also, school board member training is formalized under the NCSBA Academy for School Boardsmanship.

1991
Edenton Street offices are expanded to include a larger conference room for more in-house meetings.

1994
Causby retires and Ed Dunlap is elected as the third executive director.

1995
Workers’ Compensation Claims servicing is brought in-house.

1997
Association moves building to Faringdon Place in North Raleigh.

2000
Association moves building to current location on Falls of Neuse Road in North Raleigh.

2021
After 41 years of serving the Association, Ed Dunlap retires January 5, 2021. The Board of Directors honor him with the title executive director emeritus and name the NCSBA office building the Edwin E. Dunlap, Jr. Building.

2021
Leanne Winner is named executive director after Ed Dunlap’s retirement. She is the first female executive director in the Association’s history.

2021
NCSBA continues to provide services and support to local school boards and the public schools that they support.

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