Building High-Performing Educational Governance Teams
It is no secret that one of the attributes of a high performing school district, is to have a highly functioning board/superintendent governance team. Their teamwork, fostered by a clear understanding of roles, responsibilities, effective relationships, communication strategies, evaluation techniques, and strategic planning can significantly increase the likelihood of increasing student achievement and preparing students to succeed in the global economy.
At Ray and Associates, we want to build long-lasting relationships with governance teams to ensure their success. From years of experience, we know that healthy board/superintendent relationships must be carefully developed and maintained, which only happens as a bi-product of continuous improvement and enhanced communication.
Continuous Improvement
The purpose of the professional development for boards (and board/superintendent teams) is to strengthen their effectiveness. All boards need continual professional development to insure that they are high performing/highly effective boards focused on the essential mission: increasing student achievement.
Because we know you so well, Ray and Associates is in a great position, to provide an extension of services, especially after a superintendent’s search is complete. In addition to our core mission of searches, Ray and Associates also can provide you with of an array of board and board/superintendent services. The firm’s mission statement is: We will provide our clients with the highest quality services to assist them in hiring leaders who will meet district specific needs and positively impact the education of all students.
Ray and Associates maintains a team of outstanding associates, across the nation. Those associates have been carefully chosen to make up the core of this expanded professional development service.
Although our organization will remain agile, as boards seek consulting expertise, a curriculum has been pre-developed for each of the 1 to 2 day workshops.
- Growing and sustaining a culture of high student performance
Highly effective/laser focused, school board/superintendent governance teams, know how close to achievement gaps and perform better than their peer school systems. They learn how to focus their time and energy on the things that really matter. Discover what systems and practices are necessary; those that precede a significant boost in student achievement. Participants will learn the importance of the following as they relate to student performance/achievement: 1) having a vision and standards; 2) ensuring teacher quality & accountability; 3) establishing formative & summative assessments; 4) making sure data is used to drive student achievement; 5) creating positive learning environment & culture; 6) affirming continuous improvement/sustainability = academic achievement standards; and 7) developing strong parent & community participation.
This is a one-day workshop for your board/superintendent governance team.
- Goal setting and strategic planning
Any organization will flounder without a strong strategic plan. Although requiring significant work, strategic planning can refocus an entire school system for all stakeholders, bring boards and communities together, and develop broad areas of consensus which will allow a school system to move forward. Learn several different mechanisms that a district must employ for successful strategic planning: 1) Adopting the appropriate mission, vision, and values statements; 2) Seven principles for leadership for planning, data collection, and goal setting; 3) Development of strategic initiatives, goals, strategies; 5) Assigning resources, persons responsible, timelines, etc; 6) Determining your strengths, weaknesses, advantages and threats through the use of a S.W.A.T. analysis and 7) accountability through the use of the data dashboard.
It is expected that your consultant will need to be on site, in your district, at least three different times for a day or two each time. Other communication with your district staff can be handled through web conferencing. The entire process may take three to five months.
- Vital steps Boards can take to ensure success of you newly hired superintendent
The honeymoon period should not be wasted! There are lots of significant communication strategies, procedural steps and groundwork to be laid in the first six months after hiring a new superintendent. Don’t miss the opportunity! There is nothing more important than getting off to a good start whenever a new superintendent is hired. Learn what happens, when boards and superintendents properly plan the course of their relationship.
In this workshop, the board will learn about the importance of 1) Utilizing a superintendent's entry plan, 2) Defining the role of superintendent and school board; 3) Discussing critical issues facing the superintendent; 4) Outlining district opportunities and roadblocks; 5) and creating long-lasting relationships. The workshop will conclude with very specific advice to the superintendent and school Board.
This is a one-day workshop for your board/superintendent governance team.
- Maintaining a positive Board/Superintendent relationship
Highly effective boards and superintendents maintain strong, positive relationships. Doing so requires constant attention and effective communication. In this workshop, boards and superintendents will learn proven methods for strengthening and maintaining a strong board/superintendent relationship.
This is a one-day workshop for your board/superintendent governance team. Following this workshop, it is recommended that you select several other focus areas for continuous improvement, depending on district priorities.
- Effective communication techniques for Boards of Education
Two-way, interactive communication is vital for a board to function and communicate rationale to stakeholders. Learn a number of highly effective communication strategies that every board should employ to enhance the information flow to and from constituents. You will learn how highly effective boards structure their internal and external communication efforts.
This is a one-day workshop for your board/superintendent governance team. The consultant will be available, as needed, to assist in setting up your communication structure.
- Passing a voter-approved referendum for bricks and mortar and/or for additional budget authority
The public has become more cynical and it is increasingly more difficult to pass voter-approved issues in many districts. In this workshop, boards and administrative teams will learn the most effective strategies available and the necessary steps to insure a successful outcome on a voter-approved referendum. In the referendum workshop, the board will study: 1) communication capacity planning; 2) creating an awareness of financial needs; 3) community engagement and surveying; 4) Appropriate board of activities and actions; 5) campaign planning; and 6) post mortem campaign analysis.
This is a one-day workshop for your board/superintendent governance team. The consultant will be available, as needed, to assist in setting up your entire process. In case the district is following an unsuccessful attempt (failed election), it is recommended that the consultant be on site for the day preceding the workshop to gather data and conduct a post-mortem on the failed election. This will enhance the opportunity for a highly productive workshop.
- Creating 21st Century High Schools
Are your high schools still operating in the 20th Century? While your district may be doing a very good job with many of your high school students--many of your high school offerings are not currently suited to prepare graduates for the academic and employment opportunities they will face in the 21st Century AND many of the types of technological, technical, project-based, relevant and hands-on educational opportunities that are available in some high schools likely do not exist in your district.
This workshop will expose your board/superintendent governance team to a high school program model that is relevant to students, engages them in learning and prepares them for success. The model promotes a high level of student engagement, motivates students, uses appropriate technologies, and provides pathways to careers.
In adding advanced professional technical education to your curriculum—there is no need to remove the more traditional, comprehensive, rigorous university preparatory programming from your offerings—in fact we will show you a way to strengthen those courses as well! Our model will also expose your team to strategies to ensure that your students: are engaged and motivated; are responsible for their own learning; can verbalize their goals; are able to see their advanced professional technical education as step one—of many steps in their life goals and career aspirations; are able to demonstrate problem solving & critical thinking skills; and they get it! (the connection between school and careers) This is a one-day workshop for your board/superintendent governance team and a recommended second day workshop for your Principals and other key building personnel. Following the two days, the consultant will be available, as needed, to assist in outlining the plan to accomplish your goals.
