Kathy Swan, a board member in the Cape Girardeau School District, has achieved the advanced certification designation in the Missouri School Boards Association's Certified Board Member Program.

Swan was among graduates of the program's inaugural class and was the only one from Southeast Missouri.

The program is designed to equip school board members with the knowledge and skills they need to function as effective education leaders in their communities.

School board members achieve certification by completing a series of professional development activities, which focus on board operations, policy making and goal setting.