The Grand WaltzThe Head of School

andThe Board of Trustees

(Wanda M. Holland Greene, Head of The Hamlin School)

The Waltz in a Nutshell

The Head of School guides the board of trustees, yet the board of trustees employs the Head of School.

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/Friends 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

The Head of School is watching the girls’ varsity soccer team play abysmally against a rival school.  The head’s 15 year-old daughter is a player on the team, and she and her friends have complained often that the soccer coach is "no good" and "mean."  At the game, a trustee makes a snide remark to the head about the athletics program and expresses serious doubts about the abilities of the coach.

What is the head of school supposed to do?

(a) Tell the trustee that the issue will be raised at the next board meeting.

(b) Change the subject and watch his daughter and her friends play the game.

(c) Manage by walking around to see if others share similar views and then report the findings to the board.

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

(e) Communicate in writing with the Director of Athletics to express students’ and parents’ concerns.

One, Two, Three….

Seek sponsorship to serve as a trustee of a school or non-profit organization that you love

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

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