The Grand WaltzThe Head of School

AndThe Board of Trustees

The Waltz in a Nutshell

You guide them, and they employ you.

Mission, Resources, and Strategy

Mission: The board is the steward of the mission

Resources: The board is the steward of the school’s resources (people, facilities, and financial) both now and for the future

Strategy: The board holds the future of the school in its trust and works in partnership with the head to set the strategic direction of the school

Who Leads?

The Head of School, of course!Primary Responsibility of the Head of School: To oversee the

implementation of the school’s educational mission and to manage daily operations

• Work in close partnership with the board of trustees to develop and implement a strategic vision for the school

• Embody the pursuit of knowledge and love of learning (“Headmaster”)

• Manage communication for the school; chief storyteller & problem-solver

• Manage personnel (hiring, firing, etc.)• Oversee and guide all program and policy decisions

Who Leads?

The Board of Trustees, of course!

Primary Responsibility of the Board of Trustees: To govern the school by offering time, talent, and treasure (work, wisdom, and wealth)

Selects, evaluates, and supports the Head of School

Develops broad institutional policies that guide the Head of School

Safeguards the financial well-being of the school

Acts as a whole unit, not as self-interested individuals

Board Composition

Members and Ex-Officio Members Parents (Current and Past) Alumni/Alumnae Fellow Head of School or Senior Administrator Community Members/Friend of the School (Faculty/Student Representative: NOT ADVISED)

Board Committees

Buildings and Grounds/Campus Stewardship Finance Investment Development/Advancement Audit Committee on Trustees/Governance Other Possibilities: Community/Diversity; Education

The Dance Floor:The Board Meeting

Approval of the Minutes/Consent Agenda Board Chair ReportHead of School ReportCommittee ReportsKey Policy Discussions and Decisions (Votes)Generative Thinking

The Head’s Dance Partner:

The Board ChairYou are the board chair. You receive an email signed by the faculty expressing disapproval of the firing of the school’s beloved Middle School English teacher (who had been with the school for 15 years). The letter requests a meeting with the trustees. The head of school had discussed the impending firing with you before the action was taken, and you had agreed that the action was necessary. As board chair, what do you do about the email from the faculty?(a) You call the head, report the email, and say that you feel it is necessary to meet with the faculty, preferably without the head, to show them that you want to hear their concerns.(b) You write a thoughtful response to the faculty on behalf of the board.(c) You ignore the email, assuming that head of school will weather the crisis.(d) You send a response to the faculty saying that although you understand their concern, hiring and firing decisions are the domain of the head, whose action you support.(e) You call a special board meeting to deal with the crisis.  

Dancing in Step

A trustee is watching the boys’ varsity basketball team play abysmally against a rival school.  The trustee’s 15 year-old is a player on the team, and the teen has often complained that the basketball coach is "no good" and "mean."  At the game, another parent makes a snide remark to the trustee about the athletics program and expresses doubts the abilities of the coach.

What is the trustee supposed to do?

(a) Tell the parent that she/he is concerned too and will raise the issue at the next board meeting.

(b) Change the subject and decide not to share the conversation with the head.

(c) Ask around to see if others share similar views and then report the findings to the board chair.

(d) Find an opportunity to talk to the head about the concerns about the athletics program and coach.

(e) Write a note to the Director of Athletics to report parents’ concerns.

One, Two, Three….

Seek to serve as a trustee of a non-profit you love

Request permission from the Head of School to join or audit a full board meeting or committee meetings

Read the NAIS Trustee Handbook to familiarize yourself with best practices in school governance

Let’s Play Bingo!

Board’s Decision Head of School’s Decision Joint Decision between the Head and the

Board