Lumen Impact Group
Lumen Impact Group

Board Service: What I Wish I Knew as a First-Time School Board Member

Published: February 28, 2024

By: Amy Ruck Kagan, Senior Partner

As someone who works with school boards for a living, I thought that becoming a board member at my kids’ charter school would be pretty straightforward. After all, years of working in the field have made me acutely aware of all the challenges that come with board service, and I’ve equipped countless boards with tactics to be effective. 

Well, when I started out, everything I thought I knew – every tactic I had trained others in, and every best-practice I had offered – had become much more complicated. All of a sudden it was  personal and it was hard! The stakes are high, and the quest for effective governance can be a daunting one. In this series, I aim to offer practical advice, share foundational principles, and guide you through the complexities of board service as somebody who is doing the hard work right alongside you.

But before we get into the details of how to lead an effective school board, let’s make sure we’re on the same page with the basics.

The Fundamentals of Governance

What’s your role and what are your responsibilities? Well, board members are the architects of policy, not the coffee fetchers. We’re here to set the direction, not micromanage. Think of it as the difference between being the captain of a ship and one of the sailors – our role is to steer, not row.

But there’s more to it. As board members, we have legal and ethical obligations. We need to navigate the legal landscape and follow our principles diligently to equip our schools for success.

Building a Strong Foundation

Every adventure needs a vision, right? Your organization is no different. A clear mission and vision statement serve as your map in this journey. They define your purpose and destination, setting the stage for success.

Strategic planning? That’s your GPS. It helps you plot your course, anticipate obstacles, and find the hidden gems of success. It’s the blueprint for your adventure.

And if strategic plans are your map,policies and procedures are like the rules of the road. They provide structure and guidance to ensure everyone’s on the same page.

So, grab your map and a road trip snack, and buckle up. Over the next few weeks I’ll share some tools to help you and your team successfully navigate the day-to-day of governance. If you have questions along the way, contact me! I’d love to hear more about the challenges you are facing and share how the Lumen team can help! 

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