ALEXANDRIA, Va. – C.H. “Sonny” Savoie, president of the National School Boards Association, received the prestigious Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Seven Seals Award for sustaining support for the mission of ESGR.

The Seven Seals Award is the only ESGR award that bridges both the employer and ESGR volunteer recognition awards program. It was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide significant achievement and initiative that promotes and supports the ESGR mission.

“I am honored to receive the prestigious Seven Seals Award as our public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, so it is natural that the National Guard and Reserve will draw from the staff in our schools for their important work,” Savoie said. “At the same time, it is critical that we have procedures for a smooth transition for our employees, our administrators and our schools. It is important that school boards make sure that their policies are in line with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act Law.”

The National School Boards Association board of directors and seven state associations (California School Boards Association, Delaware School Boards Association, Kansas Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of School Boards, Minnesota School Boards Association, New York State School Boards Association and Wyoming School Boards Association) have now endorsed the efforts of the EGSR to provide training for employers on the rights of workers who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflicts through mediation. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association is a not-for-profit organization representing state associations of school boards and their 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to work with and through all its State Association members to foster excellence and equity in public education through school board leadership. NSBA achieves that mission by representing the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.