Governance Training Center

International schools operate under unique contexts and require exceptional governance. Join the journey…

 
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Online Mini-Sessions

Extensive experience working with international school governing boards and owners has underscored that, while each is unique, many do share some common dilemmas. Without careful attention, these dilemmas can undermine the key purpose of the board: to protect and rejuvenate the mission and the animating spirit of governance to be an asset to the school. Our series of 2-hour virtual sessions addresses these dilemmas.

 
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School Governance in the time of COVID

Governance in the Time of COVID

TBD
07:00 - 09:00am EST
Facilitators: Chip Barder and Bambi Betts

There has been so much demand for this we are repeating it!

Shocking as it may sound, the pandemic does not create a governance emergency; a school board is not a first responder—that’s the job of the school head and their team. And of course the board is supporting the head in whatever ways are needed.

There is PLENTY of governance work to do beyond ensuring that support—work that is uniquely the role of school governance, namely the strategic decisions and generative thinking involved in ensuring the long term health of the school and protecting the mission.

HOWEVER—there is a dilemma. Does that work look the same as it did before? Typically questions like ‘Should we reduce staff? Modify salaries? Reduce class size? Make curriculum improvements? Move to all virtual learning?’ are the responsibility of the head of school. But now these decisions are likely to carry far more long-term implications for learning and for the school as an institution, blurring the lines between the ‘purely’ operational and the strategic. For school governance this context is a stress test of our understanding of the purpose and role of the board and the systems and practices in place, and an opportunity to refine boardsmanship even further and become an even more valuable asset to the school. And that’s what we explore in this session.

What will we learn?

  • How can we Identify commitments in the mission that continue to need protection, even as the pandemic demands short-term decisions?

  • What criteria we might use in prioritizing the long and short term needs?

  • What are practical ways of redesigning strategic thinking/planning in this context?

  • How can we better plan for the long term effects of short and near term decisions?

  • How do we ensure the board/head practices are robust and clear so both structures are maximized through this dilemma?

How does it work?

The session features:

  • a 2-hour synchronous session conducted on Zoom. You will need a internet connected device

  • Interactive presentation during which you will engage with some exercises and reflections

  • Breakout rooms with other participants

  • PDF packet of materials which you will use for the interactive parts of the session

Who is it for?

It is open to all members of international school school governing bodies: boards, owners, school heads and others.

What is the cost?

Per participant from a member school: USD$200
Per participant from a non-member school: USD$225
Online payment by credit card. Wire transfer payment available to groups of more than five. Email registrations@theptc.org

Not a member school? Click here for more information Provoked or Inspired to learn more? Click here…