governing for greatness: 2015 colorado league of charter schools conference
TRANSCRIPT
GOVERNING FORGREATNESS
2015 COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOLS CONFERENCE
COLORADO LEAGUE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
JOSEPH B. URBANJASON L. SARSFIELD
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
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National Charter Schools Institute
• The Institute is a values-driven, nonprofit organization founded in 1995.
• Our mission is to strengthen the performance and productivity of the charter schools sector.
• We coach and consult with boards, schools, authorizers, support organizations and policymakers.
• Our team is composed of passionate professionals.
• We seek to understand, honor and support our clients.
• We believe in and strive to uphold the Golden Rule.
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Goals for Today
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Share a Framework for Greatness
Discuss Principles for Governing
Inspire Hearts & Minds
Answer Questions
Have Fun!
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RELATIONSHIPS
“People don’t care how much you know until they
know how much you care.”
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““ “Good is the enemy
of great.”Jim Collins
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Superior Performance
Distinctive Impact
Lasting Endurance
What Is Greatness?
Collins’ Good-to-Great Framework
OUTPUT RESULTS
STAGE 1: DISCIPLINED PEOPLE
INPUT PRINCIPLES
Level 5 Leadership
First Who, Then What
STAGE 2: DISCIPLINED THOUGHTConfront the Brutal Facts
The Hedgehog Concept
STAGE 3: DISCIPLINED ACTIONCulture of Discipline
The Flywheel
STAGE 4: BUILDING GREATNESS TO LAST
Clock Building, Not Time Telling
Preserve Core, Stimulate Progress
DELIVERS SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
MAKES A DISTINCTIVE IMPACT
ACHIEVES LASTING ENDURANCEBeyond Any Leader,
Idea or Setback
On the Communities It Touches
Relative to Its Mission
Sharpening Your Focus
Building forBreakthrough
“““Greatness . . . is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.”
Jim Collins
Purpose of Governance
“To ensure, usually on behalf of others, that an
organization achieves what it should achieve while
avoiding those behaviors and situations that should
be avoided.”
““Dr. John Carver
Boards That Make a Difference
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Purpose of a Charter School Governing Board
“To ensure, on behalf of the public, that students are
learning, money and resources are well stewarded, and the organization passionately pursues greatness, while
modeling the highest legal and ethical principles.”
““Dr. James Goenner
National Charter Schools Institute
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Common Board Challenges
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Dysfunctional Group Dynamics
Disengaged Board Members
Uncertainty About Roles and Responsibilities
Source: Problem Boards or Board Problems? The Nonprofit Quarterly
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Some People Observe That …
“ Trustees are often little more than high-
powered, well-intentioned people
engaged in low-level activities.”
““Chait, Holland and Taylor
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A Simple Way to Frame Roles
Governing Board
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To Ensure
Management
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To Execute
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Would a Great Leader Want to
Serve on or Work for Your Board?
The First Thing the Board Governs Is Itself
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“Know Thyself”
Leadership Pyramid
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Level 5 Leaders Want to Work for a Board That …
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• Knows its purpose and why it exists• Understands it is the highest authority in
the organization
• Knows it represents the public• Is disciplined in its role and behaviors and
those of its individual members
• Is trustworthy and predictable.
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Level 5 Leaders Want to Work for a Board That …
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• Uses its authority to empower, not strangle• Ensures the organization is effective
and efficient• Has high expectations and measures
performance
• Is unafraid to judge, but does so fairly
• Continuously earns credibility.
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“““We believe boards that govern for greatness
ask wise questions and measure things that
really matter.”Dr. James Goenner
National Charter Schools Institute
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Wise Questions
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HOW WELL IS OUR SCHOOL …
Preparing Students for College, Work and Life
Leveraging Resources
Fulfilling Its Commitments?
Where Does Your Board Spend Its Time?
First Things First
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12 Responsibilities of a Charter School Board
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ENSURE all students are being prepared for success in college, work and life.
ENSURE the public’s money and resources are well stewarded.
ENSURE the organization is run by a great leader and infused with a positive culture and learning environment.
ENSURE the terms of the charter contract are fulfilled and the organization is prepared for renewal.
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ENSURE the organization continuously improves and stays viable.
ENSURE the organization is true to its vision, mission and values.
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ENSURE the organization operates legally and ethically.
12 Responsibilities of a Charter School Board
ENSURE goals are clear and people and programs are wisely empowered, supported, evaluated and held accountable.
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ENSURE the board and its members are positive ambassadors for the charter idea!
ENSURE the board recruits, orients and develops its members and its capacity to govern.
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ENSURE the board adopts and properly maintains its governing policies.
ENSURE the board speaks with one voice.
12 Responsibilities of a Charter School Board
THANK YOU!
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