A School Board Guide to Leading Successful Schools

The go-to resource for school board members’ greatest challenges!

For districts striving to improve student academic performance, professional learning at all levels can make a crucial difference. This invaluable guide addresses the top challenges experienced by nearly every school board, and shows how professional learning can assist in overcoming these challenges and support positive changes.

Two influential education leaders—and experienced board trustees—present an approach that helps school board members form their own professional learning community and become a stronger, more productive team. Aligned with Learning Forward’s current Standards for Professional Learning (developed in collaboration with, and supported by, more than 18 national organizations, including the National School Boards Association), this resource enables board members to

• Learn from case studies focused on 12 critical board-level decisions, including hiring a new superintendent, resource allocation, compensation planning, and more
• Deepen your understanding of leadership and actions that advance school success and benefit the wider community
• Know when, where, and how to use professional learning to improve individual and systemic  performance
• Benefit from best practices and tools developed to support effective decisions and successful implementation of major initiatives

Turn to this resource to assist with your continuous improvement journey and achieve greater success for all schools!

"School boards play a pivotal role in creating a climate of learning in a school system. This book offers practical advice to enable school boards to fulfill this critical aspect of their public leadership role. It is a road map for action and continuous improvement for every school board." —Thomas J. Gentzel, Executive Director National School Boards Association

"This book is an excellent tool for the collaborative work of school boards and school personnel. The activities encourage the collaboration and conversation that support continuous improvement in education." —Lisa Casto, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development Allen ISD, TX