Behaviors for effective board teams
Kentucky School Advocate
December 2022
By Kerri Schelling
KSBA Executive Director
The 2022 election is in the books and while many of Kentucky’s school boards will remain unchanged, others will ring in 2023 with new faces at the board table. Once the oaths of office are administered, each member – veteran or newcomer – will face the same expectations from their local communities to effectively oversee the education of its children and the stewardship of the tax dollars that make public education possible. It sounds easy enough, right?
Far from it. The role of the school board is unique, the stakes are high and almost nothing in a new member’s life adequately prepares them for the realities of leading a multi-million dollar operation in the public eye. While there is a lot to learn, with professional development, dedication and experience the work becomes manageable. When all members of the board team share a cohesive vision, the work becomes easier.
But how do members of a board become a unified governance team when each member comes to board service with their own reasons, priorities and definitions of what success in the district looks like? It doesn’t happen by accident, and with mistrust, disrespect or personal agendas it won’t happen at all. With the will to govern well, patience and commitment by each member, any board can thoughtfully plan and execute their common goals.
In the book “The Governance Core: School Boards, Superintendents and Schools Working Together,” Davis Campbell and Michael Fullan acknowledge that there are no magic bullets for overcoming friction on the board. But they do share some behaviors all board members can commit themselves to that, over time, can strengthen peer relationships and positively impact board culture – even when things are already going well:
• Reserve judgement – let go of assumptions and preconceived notions about the message and the messenger.
• Listen empathetically – be open to what others are communicating and focus on the message, not the way it is delivered.
• Stay focused on content, not behavior or style – ignore rhetoric and remain committed to learning and understanding the core issues. Don’t allow issue differences to become weapons in personal disputes on the board.
• Always be true to the norms of the board – treat everyone with respect and demonstrate the core values of the board. Norms and protocols are most important in times of stress and difficulty.
• Do not take differences personally – remember the only behavior a person can control is his or her own.
These guidelines may be simple but living them can be a challenge. Being expected to work effectively with those who don’t share philosophical or ideological perspectives can feel like an impossible task but, as Campbell and Fullan point out, “the responsibility of education governance is so profound that there is no acceptable alternative.”
Board members may be elected as individuals, however a school board only has authority as a team. At the end of the day, liking each other personally isn’t a requirement for effective board service but resolving to work together professionally is. No, school board service may not be easy, but your students, staff, parents and communities are worth it.
On behalf of all of us at KSBA, Happy Holidays and best wishes for a new year full of goodwill, peace, hope and joy!