ABSTRACT
Hero makers who facilitate the professional development of their boards through annual retreats provide two things: an opportunity for board members to see and feel the experience of being a student of leadership and governance; and an opportunity for board members to get to know each other better personally. The chapter recommends that hero makers consider the following method to divide up time spent at an annual retreat: board of education group goals and a focus on board business and school governance; training and professional development in stewardship, leadership, and governance; and the superintendent's goals that the board will oversee. Goals and a focus on board business and school governance are recommended in terms of a board's own vision and mission. Effectively scheduled and delivered, a hero maker's retreat allows the board to see itself as responsible for doing something besides being in charge of the school district.
