Photo by Erica Techo.
New Shelby County Board of Education member David Bobo is the director of community and media relations at Jefferson State Community College and has participated in multiple community programs.
David Bobo has worked to give back to the Shelby County community through his positions in community organizations and on nonprofit boards throughout the county. Now, he is working to give back through the Shelby County Board of Education.
The school board voted in March to approve David Bobo to fill the position left vacant by Kevin Morris, who now serves on the Shelby County Commission.
“I thought Kevin and the board, they’ve done such a great job for so long, and when there was a vacancy, I just really thought about [applying] and prayed about it,” Bobo said. “One of the main reasons [I applied] is I have two boys who are in the Shelby County school system, so we kind of see the day in, day out decisions that are made and how they affect students.”
As a parent of two students, Bobo said he is “really invested” in the county and the school system. He is also involved in the county through his role as director of community and media relations at Jefferson State Community College, his participation on the boards of Leadership Shelby County, Family Connection and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby County, as a volunteer with the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce and through his sons’ activities — from student government to sports teams.
“When you are invested in something, it really means more to you, rather than if you’re not,” Bobo said. “My family and I feel like we’re all in. We’re heavily invested in Shelby County, from living and working and being involved in the Shelby County School System, we have a definite interest in everything in Shelby County.”
Since he joined the school board, Bobo said he has been “getting a feel” for the position and learning all he can from the other board members. His main goal is to help Shelby County schools continue along a positive trajectory, something he said the board is doing already.
“Overall, the big answer would be just really keep improving maintained excellence,” he said. “It’s been so good for so long; we certainly don’t want to take any steps backward. There’s certainly always ways to improve.”
Being involved in activities throughout the county is something Bobo sees as an asset, he said, which can help him visualize how different decisions will affect Shelby County schools as well as the community as a whole. His experiences have helped him learn more about the county, he said, as well as what is going on throughout Shelby County.
“All of those experiences, I believe, help contribute to you being a better decision-maker, better board members,” he said.
The relationships also will allow him to get more opinions as he grows into his new role.
“With everything we do at Jefferson State and in the community, anything that’s really going to be worthwhile for the county, it really needs to stem from great partnerships,” he said.
His position on the board is ultimately another way to give back, Bobo said, and he is honored to have been selected.
“The main thing here, and the reason I put my name in the hat, is to continue the excellence [in Shelby County schools] and make it better,” Bobo said. “I think there’s a plan for continual improvement for many years. I believe Shelby County schools have done a good job of sticking to that.”
