This article, published in the October issue of the American School Board Journal, is the second of a series of articles about the knowledge, the skills, and the dispositions needed to effectively serve as a school board member.
In addition to basic knowledge needed by new school board members, they need to learn individual skills needed for service as a member of the school board – individual skills in the form of effective boardsmanship.
Effective boardsmanship requires an ability to connect with and learn from community members, advocate for student needs, prepare for and contribute to board meetings, refer complaints/suggestions/etc. for appropriate action, maintain confidentiality and support transparency, each of which are appropriate in different situations, comply with legal obligations, and other important skills as an individual member fo the board.
Another set of skills involve the individual member’s contribution to effectiveness in the board’s governance capacity. These skills include collaborating with colleagues on the ‘top team‘ of board and superintendent, supporting ‘board process‘, supporting the role of the board chair, and promoting continuous improvement in the board through professional development.
The article is available online at: