DBHawley - Resources

Resources

This resources page includes references to good practice in school leadership and governance. Aligning with these can contribute to the stability and flourishing of the school, its leadership and governance and, ultimately, students. Many of the frameworks for workshops, retreats and coaching are derived from these resources, tailored to the needs of the school and its leaders. This resources page also includes links to research that I am engaged in as well as books, articles and podcasts that I have found made me think in the area of leadership, governance and education for the 21st century and beyond.

Activities that a School Head and a Board Chair / Owner or a full Board can do together that will strengthen the relationship.

Watch this two minute video on "What Makes a Great Leader" - After watching the video, the head of school can use this prompt for discussion: "What are some examples where you are willing to be a safety net for me to take courageous action?" Best if you can use an actual example so the discussion is about something specific not theoretical.

AAIE The Association for the Advancement of International Education - Good Governance Project

AAIE has partnered with the US Office of Overseas Schools to create a collection of resources for member schools. These resources were developed by experienced heads and board chairs, guided by research, in response to their finding that:

"boards and school heads in “high-achieving schools” come together to create a strong working relationship, where shared vision and action over time promotes continuous improvement– guided by high-quality board policies, procedures and strategic intent."

And further assert that:

"Board trustees and head of school form the single most important team within a school. If the school head and board team are not in harmony and productive, then all other functions across a school are compromised."

The project has led to the development of the LEADING TOGETHER CURRICULUM, a practical, hands-on governance development curriculum for Head of School/Board Chair teams and THE BOARD DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM, a concise yet comprehensive guide to the responsibilities of an International School Board of Trustees. Reading through the table of contents of each of these curricula can give heads and chairs an opportunity to reflect on areas of expertise that they have developed and those areas that are not yet fully developed and that might be areas for coaching or mentoring.

Link to AAIE

BoardSource An essential resource for every nonprofit board.

BoardSource is considered one of the best resources for non-profit boards. All of the members of DBH EduConsulting have completed the BoardSource Certificate of Nonprofit Board Education and use their resources adapted to the unique needs of each head of school and board with whom they work. Here is a sample resource book on building the governance partnership.

Link to BoardSource website.

NAIS The National Association of Independent Schools principles of good practice.

The NAIS Principles of Good Practice define high standards and ethical behavior in key areas of independent school operations. These include principles of good practice for boards, the individual trustee, the head of school and many other areas. In addition, NAIS serves international schools worldwide and has published an International Trustee Handbook for schools outside the United States. Many schools use these resources as a benchmark. The founder of DBH Consulting has worked closely with NAIS and received the NAIS Leading Edge Award for Curriculum Innovation in dual language education while serving as Head of Atlanta International School.

Link to NAIS website

Books & Articles References useful for leadership and governance with an emphasis on transitions and current trends

The First 90 Days, Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Michael D. Watson -
A good resource for the creation of an entry plan for a head new to a school. I have used this myself and have coached several principals on adapting this to a school setting. From the website: "Transitions are a critical time for leaders. In fact, most agree that moving into a new role is the biggest challenge a manager will face. While transitions offer a chance to start fresh and make needed changes in an organization, they also place leaders in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps made during the crucial first three months in a new role can jeopardize or even derail your success."

The Great Board Reboot, Board members open up on changing roles and expectations, Financial Times

Most school boards include members who are themselves senior leaders from a variety of businesses and organizations, both for profit and non-profit. This 2024 report from the Financial times captures trends relevant to all boards in language that may be more familiar to those working outside the world of schools.

Research Research related to the factors that influence head of school longevity.

How Long do International School Heads Survive?, Hawley A Research Analysis Part 1, Part 2. The answer: only 2.8 years. And most leave due for some reason connected to the governing body of the school.

Chief Administrator Turnover in International Schools, Benson 2011. This research suggests turnover, a somewhat different measure of head longevity, is about 3.7 years.

The Future of Education A collection of articles, books, podcasts, videos I have found interesting to ponder when thinking about the future and these questions: What should students know (savoir)? How should students be in this world (savoir être)? What should they be able to do (savoir-faire) ?

Forthcoming. Like the future itself.