Head of School

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Head of SchoolsBoard Tool Box

• NCEA Atlanta 2006

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• OLD SAT analogy
• Our board is to our school as
• ________ is to _________

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Board as control mechanism Dam river Curbstone
road Border collie herd Control tower
pilot Landlord tenant
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Board as strategic direction setter Compass
navigation Headlights auto Rudder boat Guidance
systemsatellite Periscope submarine
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Board as meaning maker Inspiration poet Values
choices Designer work of art Vision
implementation
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Types of Boards

• Governing
• Advisory
• Limited Jurisdiction

Each type has different relationships with Head
of School, all of which are tricky!
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Use things from your teachers Bag of Tricks

• Modeling what you want
• communication
• collaboration
• Identifying positive examples
• Start with the end in mind
• Objectives
• Assessment
• Clear standards
• Each class is different and students have
  different backgrounds and needs

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GPS SystemKnowing where you are
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Mission Focus

• Catholic identity
• Student learning
• Dignity of the teacher
• Partnership with parents
• Focused on things that ONLY the Board can do to
  promote the mission

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Roles and Responsibilities

• Board as a whole
• Individual members
• Committees
• Chair
• Head of school
• Sponsoring entity

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Skill sets of Board members

• Personal and professional backgrounds
• Orientation
• On-going Board Formation
• Attitude of nose in, fingers out

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Current realities of the school

• Student and faculty profiles
• Programs
• Facilities
• Finances
• Your concerns
• Competitive landscape

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Telescope(not a microscope)
Crystal ball
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• Clear vision for five years ahead
• Planning for next generation of students

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TargetGoal Setting
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Goals and Assessment Practices

• Data-driven, measurable outcomes
• Model by setting your own for the school and your
  job performance. Report on progress and ask for
  help.

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Board Self-Assessments

• Do we have the right people with the needed
  expertise to move the school forward?
• How are we doing operationally?
• Frequency, time, place of meetings, food
• Materials and minutes
• Meeting experience

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Board Self assessments

• How are we fulfilling our responsibilities as a
  board and as committees?
• What are our goals and what progress are we
  making?
• How well do individual board members fulfill
  their responsibilities?

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Head of School Assessment

• Regular executive session with management letter
  to head. Focus how can we be supportive?
• Based on job description
• Head sets yearly goals with performance measures
  reports periodically to the Board
• Self assessment
• Chair appoints committee to get input from board
  members perhaps some focus groups of
  constituents.

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Issues/Questions/Problems

• Membership parents of current students, faculty
  representation
• Involvement in management issues confusion of
  policy and procedures
• Head of school communication with board members
  between meetings

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• Board minutes
• Who else in the administration should attend
  board meetings
• What committee meetings should you attend
• Preparation for meetings committee reports sent
  ahead of time
• What to do about ineffective board members
• How to show appreciation to board

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Implications of Sarbanes Oxley

• Separate Audit committee
• Conflict of interest policy
• Whistleblower protection policy
• Review by-laws and Directors and Officers
  liability insurance
• Educate board in duty of care and duty of loyalty

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If you found this presentation helpful or have
additional questions, please contact me at
pgarrahan_at_xaverianbrothers.org Good luck! Sister
Pat Garrahan, SND