Smart Oversight: Proactive Budget Risk Defense for School Districts & Local Government
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As school districts and local governments enter a critical phase of budget development, proactive financial and risk oversight is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Tune into this fireside chat featuring leaders of school districts, colleges, and municipalites who understand the real-world challenges of managing large, complex budgets. Whether you're deep into budget planning or simply looking to sharpen your risk defense posture, this session will offer practical, actionable insights tailored to the unique needs of the public sector.
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How to spot and mitigate emerging budget risks before they escalate
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Proven strategies for building board fluency in financial oversight
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Tools and techniques to strengthen transparency and build public trust
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Ways to leverage audits, dashboards, and technology for smarter oversight
This webinar is designed for:
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Superintendents and administrators
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Finance officers
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Auditors
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Risk managers
Kristin Karel
Director of Sales, Public Sector, Diligent
Kristin Karel is the Sales Director for the Public Sector at Diligent, with over nine years of experience supporting elected and appointed boards. She helps K-12 and local government organizations modernize board workflows and implement unified GRC and audit solutions that enhance transparency, strategic alignment, and stakeholder confidence.
With a proven track record in public sector engagement, Kristin is passionate about strengthening board effectiveness and fostering collaboration to drive better governance. She believes education and government are the cornerstones of thriving communities and is dedicated to equipping these institutions with the tools they need to lead effectively and transparently.
Terry Spradlin
Executive Director, Indiana School Boards Association
Previously, Spradlin was Director of Community & Government Relations for Education Networks of America, advocating for schools and libraries on technology infrastructure needs. From 2004–2013, he directed education policy and the High School Survey of Student Engagement at Indiana University’s Center for Evaluation & Education Policy, authoring more than 40 reports and advancing P-16 policy initiatives. He also served nine years with the Indiana Department of Education, including as Legislative Director, where he shaped and communicated K-12 policy priorities.
Spradlin has presented at national education conferences and represented Indiana at state and federal levels. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University and resides in Greenwood, Indiana, with his family.
Stephen Powell
Assistant City Administrator, City of Leawood
Stephen Powell serves as the Assistant City Administrator. He joined the City in March 2022 as City Clerk and was later promoted to Assistant City Manager/City Clerk. In May of 2025, he was named Assistant City Administrator. Before his current role, he held various positions with the City of Shawnee, Kansas, and the Board of County Commissioners and County Manager's Offices for Johnson County, Kansas.
Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a master's degree in public administration from Park University. He is a Certified Public Manager through the University of Kansas and a Master Municipal Clerk through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. In 2018, the City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas awarded him the Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year.
