Creating a Highly Effective Governance Team

A Governance Team (Board and Superintendent) Handbook is an excellent strategy to create an effective, positive district leadership team. What better way to demonstrate the success of that strategy than have a board president and superintendent co-present the topic?

Barbara Underwood, board president, and Dr. Greg Wyman, superintendent, from Payson Unified School District shared their not-so-secret ways of maintaining a successful partnership.

Non-negotiables for effective teamwork to include:

·         Having a shared purpose

·         Establishing operating principles and norms

·         Identifying appropriate roles for the board and superintendent

·         Creating a supportive, sustainable structure

A governance team handbook should be a living document that is reviewed and updated annually to reflect changes in state statutes and policy. This annual review also provides the opportunity to orient new board members and refresh continuing board members on the key concepts that make the handbook strategy a proven success.

Helen Hollands
Mesa Public Schools