Mastering School Governance: Insights from ISS Experts

In today’s episode, we bring together experts from International Schools Services (ISS) to discuss the intricacies of school governance and leadership in international education. Our special guests, Tom Hawkins and Glenn Odland, are both former heads of schools and current leaders in school startups and management at ISS. The conversation dives deep into the roles and responsibilities of school boards, the importance of effective governance, and the challenges of balancing business acumen with educational priorities. They explore how well-structured boards can make a significant impact on a school's success by fostering a positive relationship between the board and the school leadership.  The episode also highlights the importance of continuous board training, clear communication channels, and proper role definition to avoid conflicts between school leadership and the board. The guests emphasize that good governance is key to long-term success and share practical insights into how boards can effectively contribute to the mission of the school. We conclude by promoting their upcoming workshop on school board governance, designed to equip board members and school leaders with the tools they need to lead their institutions successfully.  Episode Timestamps and Highlights:  [2:15] Introduction of Guests: Featuring Tom Hawkins and Glenn Odland, leaders in school startups and management.  [2:58] The Role of School Boards: Discussion on the different types of school boards and their impact on school success.  [3:10] Different types of school structures  [4:12] Skill sets of members of a board  [6:32] Governance and Leadership: Importance of clear roles, responsibilities, and continuous training for board members.    [6:46] Key factors to forming a school board  [7:56] Accreditation Standards  [9:21] Board training  [10:30] Insight into Governance Workshop  [11:30] Evaluation of the HOS by the Board  [12:22] Accountability Structure  [13:52] Balance of Engagement in Decision Making  [15:50] ISS Quality Assurance program  [16:07] Conflict Management: Strategies for handling conflicts between school leadership and the board.  [16:16] Demystifying the Board for Educators  [19:00] Mitigating Conflict /Matrix of responsibility   [20:16] The role of the board vs other stakeholders   [21:30] Culture of Clarity   [23:35] Future of School Governance: Insights into emerging trends in international school governance.  [24:08] Future of the Board of Governance  [26:48] Awareness of current scenarios and challenges ie The Role of AI in Education  Workshop Announcement: Details about the upcoming ISS workshop on school board governance.  Check out the course related to this episode! Effective Board Governance in Schools Notable Quotes: “Good governance is built on a model the constantly looks at how decisions are made, how your members interact with each other and evaluating your own performance.”  “Conflict isn’t inherently in and of itself toxic or counterproductive, it’s really healthy. You have a disagreement about something you unpack it, explore and resolve it and come to a better understanding and maybe a better solution.”  [28:45] Bob Johansen – Institute For the Future: Foresight and Insight to Action    Connect with Tom and Glenn Tom Hawkins  LinkedIn: Tom Hawkins  [email protected]    Glenn Odland  LinkedIn: Glenn Odland  [email protected]  More Resources Head over iss.idu to check out ISS website for events and more. Sign up for Moreland University to elevate your career as an educator at www.moreland.edu Join the community of professional educators considering the role of inclusion in the classroom culture at seniainternational.org Check out inspirecitizens who inspire schools to live their mission of global citizenship at inspirecitizens.org The ISS EDUlearn® Passport is the ultimate subscription for your professional development. Try it out now: ⁠https://lnkd.in/gqytehA3⁠