Leading Through Thick ‘n’ Thin:
The Nuts & Bolts of Sharing
Leadership
Ms. Darci D’Ercole, Director of
Leadership Development, NYSSBA
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
Boardsmanship
• Why should we invest in boardsmanship,
does it really matter?
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
Influencing Student Achievement
Dr. Ivan Lorentzen, Ed.D.
• Effective board behaviors and practices,
“boardsmanship”, have strong correlation
with high student achievement.
• One of the board’s primary tasks is to agree
on the role of the board for how to most
effectively govern the district.
– Your efforts will ultimately have an impact in
improving the quality and experience of
educating the children in your district. Or not.
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
Influencing Student Achievement
Dr. Ivan Lorentzen, Ed.D.
• How board performance impacts students:
– This research has shown that effective boards has
a strong correlation with high student achievement:
• Working together as an effective and collaborative team
• Ensuring resources align behind instructional effort,
curriculum, technology & facilities
• Holding accountable student learning expectations
through the superintendent evaluation
• Building clear student achievement goals & expectations
• Board business conducted in a fair and respectful manner
• Engaging community and representing their values
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
Influencing Student Achievement
Dr. Ivan Lorentzen, Ed.D.
• Or not - how boards negatively impact
students:
A. Micromanagement
B. Abdicating to the administration
C. Making unrealistic demands on
administrative staff
D. Disarray – a wide variation in board member
opinions and behaviors with regard to how a
school board operates
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
Low Disarray
• School board members who are on the
same page with regard to
“boardsmanship” pull the district in the
same direction and govern districts with
higher student achievement scores.
• Thus, one of the board’s primary and most
difficult tasks is to collectively agree on the
role of the board regarding how to most
effectively govern the district.
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
How do we Effectively Govern?
Building the 4 C’s:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Confidence in leadership expectations
Clarity of roles & responsibilities
Consensus on what is success
Culture of the board – collaborative and
respectful
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
The 4 C’s: Confidence in
Leadership Expectations
• Confidence: It is important to have clear
leadership expectations on the
governance team?
Activity: Chalk Talk – this is a silent review
and answer to a set of questions
• Review the questions and other’s responses
and write a few words or statement
• Let other’s read & respond to your thoughts
• We will share the collective definitions
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
The 4 C’s of Shared Leadership
Creating Clarity of roles & responsibilities:
What problems have you experience and how
have you solved them?
A Table Discussion: Some examples
• Rouge board members
• Micromanagement
• Conflicts on the board
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
The 4 C’s of Shared Leadership
Consensus building - what constitutes
board success?
A Table Discussion: Come to consensus on
your top 3 things you think defines board
success? Some things to consider…
– Board Unity
– Meeting Board Goals
– Community engagement and support
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
The 4 C’s of Shared Leadership
• Craft your board Culture: Establishing the
right culture is key to board effectiveness
and requires intentional consideration.
Activity:
– What builds and what puts the board’s culture
at risk?
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY
See you at a future training….
Darci D’Ercole
Director of Leadership Development
[email protected]
(518)-783-3764
© 2016 New York State School Boards Association, Latham NY