Description
Book Synopsis"An empathetic but hard--hitting book about effective school board leadership. It should be required reading for superintendents, school board members, and all elected leaders. "----Anne L.
Trade Review"An empathetic but hard-hitting book about effective school boardleadership. It should be required reading for superintAndents,school board members, and all elected leaders." (Anne L. Bryant,executive director, National School Boards Association)
"The chances for providing an even better education for studentsincreases geometrically when school boards and superintAndents worktogether in common purpose. This book can help build the capacityof boards to support district-level improvement with wisegovernance and leadership." (Paul Houston, executive director,American Association of School Administrators)
"The age-old mystery of how to improve the performance of schoolboards has finally been solved. Just follow the sound advice inthis book." (Richard P. Chait, professor, Harvard Graduate Schoolof Education)
"In this valuable book, Smoley has brought wisdom and clarity toone of the most perplexing issues facing education reform: How dowe get school boards to work effectively? This is a guidebook thatserious school board officials should read cover to cover."(Christopher T. Cross, president, Council for BasicEducation)
"In an era where quality superintAndents and harmoniousrelationships between them and their boards of education are oftenhard to find and even harder to maintain, Effective School Boardsis a pungent and pithy must-read." (Kenneth S. Burnley,superintAndent of schools, Colorado Springs School District,Colorado)
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Why School Boards Fail.
A MODEL FOR BOARD EFFECTIVENESS.
Making Rational Decisions.
Functioning Cohesively as a Group.
Exercising Appropriate Authority.
Connecting to the Community.
Working Toward Board Improvement.
Acting Strategically.
HOW TO MAKE SCHOOL BOARDS STRONGER.
Strengthening the SuperintAndent-Board Partnership.
Getting the Best Information.
Engaging in Board Development.
Conclusion: An AgAnda for Action.
