ABSTRACT

Learn how to turn your school board members into heroes by helping them make smart, worthwhile decisions that they will deserve to brag about. In this much-needed book, Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker offer practical strategies to help superintendents develop better working relationships with their boards. You’ll discover how to:

  • reconnect board members to the real purpose of education, despite their agendas
  • work with your board more effectively during meetings and at times in between
  • guide board members into more productive roles when they overreach beyond policymaking
  • connect and communicate with board members regardless of personality
  • encourage board members to play to their strengths
  • start each school year undefeated and know when it is time to move on.

Each chapter contains hero-making tips to help you get started. The book also includes a special feature on board personalities and the Process Communication Model® (PCM), a method that will make it easier to avoid miscommunication with board members. With this practical book, you'll be able to overcome the challenges of the superintendent–board relationship so that your board can make better decisions for those who matter most—the students.

chapter 1|6 pages

The Hero Maker

chapter 2|9 pages

Constituencies

chapter 3|12 pages

The Board of Education

chapter 4|5 pages

The Superintendent as The Shield

chapter 5|7 pages

The Care and Feeding of Board Members

chapter 6|10 pages

Board Meetings

chapter 7|5 pages

Between Board Meetings

chapter 8|8 pages

Advancing by Retreating

chapter 9|5 pages

Board Personalities: The “I” in Team

chapter 11|4 pages

Starting Undefeated

chapter 12|9 pages

The Tour of Duty