Effective governance is critical to the long-term success of Independent Schools. Effective Boards steward and safeguard the health of their Schools for future generations. The Board ensures the School has a clear strategic direction, provides appropriate risk oversight, ensures the School has leadership capacity and resources and effectively manages Board performance. Governance relies on both “science and art”! This module aims to demystify some of the core elements of governance of independent schools.
Learning Intentions:
- Overview of Governance: Why it Matters, Board Basics
- Characteristics of Effective Boards and the new CAIS Standard on Governance (Standard 3)
- Understanding the Roles of the Board and Management
- The Pivotal Relationship: The Chair and the Head
- Building a Better Board: Board Profile, Diversity, Selection and Development
- Optimizing Board Performance: Structure, Meetings, Information, Generative Thinking, Culture and Evaluation
- Tips on Working with Boards (for Staff Leaders)
- Hot Governance Topics and Tricky Issues
Connections to the CAIS 2021 National Standards will be included.
Facilitator Biography
Susan Wright has provided strategy, governance and organizational development services for not-for-profit and public sector clients. She has been in consulting for over 35 years and has undertaken projects for many educational institutions including approximately 30 independent schools in Canada.
Susan has actively supported the work of CAIS (Canadian Accredited Independent Schools) related to enhancing governance effectiveness, and she teaches a course at the University of Toronto on Non-Profit Leadership, Strategy and Change. Susan’s past volunteer governance roles have included Chair of the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario (CIS Ontario) and a variety of volunteer roles at Havergal College including serving as Chair of the Board of Governors. From 2019 to present, Susan has been sitting as an external member on the Board of Lakefield College School.