Continuous learning — from the top down

Most board members are aware that one of the most powerful levers for advancing student outcomes is to ensure that the local educational agency has a culture of continuous improvement. For this reason, boards dedicate resources — time and funding — to using data to inform practice as well as ensuring appropriate training for all staff. This may include professional learning communities for teachers as well as targeted professional development for district staff, including the superintendent. Almost everyone in the system has a role that often requires specialized knowledge.

School boards are no different. Governing a school system is challenging work because: 1) TK-12 school systems are complex, and 2) governing has its own set of specialized knowledge and best practices. It’s not surprising that researchers and practitioners have found that board development is central to board effectiveness. In his book, “The Five Habits of High Impact School Boards” (2006), governance consultant Doug Eadie stated: “When boards are better educated about the work of governing, they are more likely to form an effective team.”

In 2008, Mary Delagardelle, then executive director of the Iowa School Boards Association and the principal researcher for what is commonly known as The Lighthouse Study, concluded that: “Learning together about board roles has been identified as one of the key practices of boards in districts that effectively advance student achievement.”

If you asked board members what percent of students should meet state standards and graduate on time, and what percentage of teachers should participate in professional development, the likely answer to both would be: “All of them.”

So, if we asked teachers, principals, superintendents and members of the community what percentage of board members should participate in learning about governance, it’s likely the answer would be the same — all of them.

CSBA offers members in-person and virtual training options throughout the year, but one of the biggest opportunities is on the short horizon. Whether trustees are recently elected, have been on the board for several years, or are current or aspiring board presidents, the 2025 Annual Education Conference and Trade Show, taking place in Sacramento Dec. 3-5, has something for everyone. Pre-conference programs on Tuesday, Dec. 2, provide specialized trainings for every level of the board member journey. Find out more at aec.csba.org.

Leaders model the behavior they expect from others. Model continuous improvement by leaning into learning about governance.