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Chambers County School Board President Jeffery Finch was one of five in the state recognized as an all-state board member after being nominated by his fellow board members during the summer.

According to a press release from the CCSD, Finch was one of only five board members in Alabama to be honored with the Alabama Association of School Boards All State Board Member last Friday in Birmingham. 

Chambers County School Superintendent Dr. Casey Chambley congratulated Finch during the special called board meeting on Monday night. 

The AASB is a statewide organization that provides support to school boards of Alabama that are members. The AASB held a banquet on Dec. 1 to honor school board members from around the state. 

Chambley said during the meeting that he and board member Vicki Leak spoke about Finch in a video for the banquet. Chambley told the VTN Finch has served as the District 1 board representative for the last 18 years. 

Chambley said Finch has accumulated over 500 continuing education units as a board member. Over the last 16 years, he has also attended 114 leadership conferences. 

Finch has received the “master level endorsement as a board member and has earned the master honor roll level endorsement,” which is the highest level recognized. Chambley said that to reach master honor roll, Finch had to achieve master level for five consecutive years. 

According to the press release, Finch played a key role in moving forward with the desegregation case by chairing the consolidation of several schools. The CCSD transitioned from 11 campuses to just 8 campuses, which improved demographic ratios. 

Chambley said that because of his long stint on the board of education, it has been Finch’s personal goal to get the desegregation case resolved during his tenure. 

“Mr. Finch has been here for three superintendents, working through this desegregation case,” Chambley said. “And so when we started making major moves, Mr. Finch saw it and made it one of his personal goals to help us get through this.”

During the banquet, Chambley said the AASB listed Finch’s achievements and he came forward to speak about his time with the CCSD.

“Mr. Finch was very gracious and he did a wonderful job representing our district and representing us at the state level,” Chambley said. “And we would like to just give our appreciation to you.”

Chambley said Finch’s dedication to the board has never wavered this year despite having many personal obstacles and health challenges to overcome. 

“He has really come through this and fought through the adversity to stick to his commitment to the district and to the kids to see this thing through,” Chambley said.