I am learning the most important task of a School Board Member is to be aware of the laws made with regard to education, because we have to ensure the proper implementation of the laws. The Leadership Institute began with an update about School labels, Teacher and Principal Evaluations, Move of When Reading and Ready, Common Core Standards, Redistricting, and Classroom Site Funds. These updates went by real quick. Some was news I had already read about in the Capital Times, online, or via my day job. Other information was very new to me.
We learned of the plan the AZ School Board Association (ASBZ) put in place to avoid schools from being in violation of the new law preventing tax dollars being used to join association that influence elections of politicians or laws. Friends of ASBA, a 501c4, was created. Donations to Friends of ASBA are not tax deductible. The law does not prevent the Friends of ASBA from lobbying.
Casa Grande Superintendent, Dr. Frank Davidson presented Keeping the Leadership Focus on Student Achievement. Dr Davidson spoke about how he created a School-Community task foce to develop the strategic plan. He referred to the Lighthouse Study, Beyond Islands of Excellence, from McREL. All members monitor progress with self-reflection, classroom observation, data discussions, evaluations, summer planning, annual GB data report, and School Board self-reflection.
Dr. Charlotte Boyle, Superintendent of Creighton School District, followed Dr. Davidson with her story about how her partnership with the Ellis Center of Educational Excellence and West Ed improved the quality of learning for their students and professional development for the teachers. The team now looks at the students and families in the district to make research based decisions.
The Keynote Speaker for the Leadership Institute was Jim Bearden. Jim spoke about Leadership in Troubling Times: Achieving District Success Regardless of the Hands You’re Dealt. We learned leaders must be willing to consider and try alternatives to the status quo in order to satisfy those changing requirements. The “Happily Ever After Cycle” was presented.
The requirements for achieving and sustaining district success are more accountability and less victimhood and people who are able and willing to lead. Jim Bearden presented several scenarios where one may consider themselves a victim, their feelings are emotional consequences of what happened, but they should be accountable, their feelings are the emotional consequences of the mental choices they make about what happens out there. Setbacks are inevitable. Victims blame, wallow, quit, wait, wish and hope. Accountable people get over it and get on with IT.
Effective leaders are able and willing to consciously create cultures that reinforce and support behavior essential to district success and facilitate continuous process improvement (The Relentless Search for Better Ways). To consciously create district culture a leader should: ensure that others understand what you expect from them, model that behavior, measure their performance using those expectations, honor efforts and progress toward meeting your expectations, confront unwillingness/bad faith, and make sure that you understand what others expect from you. Facilitating continuous process improvement includes: leaders must be willing to make changes, demonstrate (model) their willingness to consider and try alternative to the status quo and facilitate continuous process improvement (deliberate, decide, implement, improve.
I had the pleasure to participate in Jim Beadern’s breakout session, Leadership, Culture, and Collaboration - Theory to Practice. He continued his breakout session telling us student achievement requires us to try something other than the status quota. Reiterating, happily ever afters don't just happen.
Change happens and so do the requirements of success.
Telling is not selling.....got to show not tell.
Jim told a Tale of Two Perspectives: the age of 60 is seen differently based on one's age.
Know the values of your employees.
What they see from you is what you can expect to get from them.
The Board Members are the Strategic leaders, the Principals are the tactical leaders, the Superintendent is the conduit between the two.
It is important for Board members to give a clear message to the team:
· What do you expect back from us?
· What is the order of importance?
· Why do you value those things?
This dynamic speaker was very inspiring. His true life stories helped us related to the message he was giving. Many of us, including me, ran to the table after his session to buy his book.
The Governing Board Role in Financial Leadership, by Jeff Gadd of Isaac School District, was the other breakout session I attended. I learned about the calendar of activities, the budget preparation process, budget projections, assignment of responsibility, and sample reports. It is amazing how much I learn from other School Boards, even after six months into this role. Isaac School Board receives a financial report every month and a monthly schedule for the other tasks the board must complete with regard to the finances. A budget sheet that Jeff gives his Board Members was in the packet. This sheet would be so much easier for me to view, as well. Board Members from other districts informed me they receive this budget sheet every month. They also shared that one member from the board reviews the monthly budget expenses, not every member of the board. This was great news to me, because I never seem to have enough time to review the budget expenses and ask the questions for the items that concern me. I will surely bring these two new bits of information to our next School Board Meeting.
Dr. Ron Barnes, presented the next session: Three Amazing Possibilities for impacting Student Lives.
To be an effective leader you must:
· have love and compassion for others
· try to make a positive difference in others
· believe in selfless-service to others
· trust and respect
Exercise power with (collaboratively), not power over.
Hope has two daughters; one is called Anger at the way things are and the other is Courage to change the way things are.
Dr. Barnes then turned over his presentation time to several ladies who spoke about Brain Integration. Summarizing Brain Integration would not be enough for you to understand. Therefore, I will simply send you to their website.
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