School Governance Councils

Built to lastHPS Principals March 22,2011

The main idea

A strong SGC will help to carry and support you and your school.

You will have to drag a weak SGC along behind you (and probably rebuild it every year)

Common Sense????

TipsNew angles Stuff they forgot to teach in principal school How about a golf lesson?Or a trip to the supermarket?Is this an insult?

Axiom: Not everybody is alike

Corollary 1: We are all different

Corollary 2: Not everybody is like you (AKA - the big news)

Communication preferences

EmailPhone callSnail mailFrom whom? (What do I deserve?)When?How Much?It doesn’t hurt to ask.

Learning Styles

Visual

Auditory

Kinesthetic

When to meetBefore schoolAfter schoolEveningWeekendAlways the same day & timeThis is impossibleIt doesn’t hurt to ask

What does it say when you meet at a time that is convenient for teachers and school staff but not so good for parents?

Tell me you love me

Or at least that you are glad to see me

Everyone has a preferred language

WordsGiftsQuality timeTouchActs of service

Making meetings work

Have you ever been to a bad meeting?(Am I kidding?)

Is there any such thing as a good meeting?

Try these ideas Feed your people Take care of their kids Have an action oriented agenda (verbs)

available in advance Stay focused on mission Use ground rules Make sure everyone is engaged Give everyone something to do Schedule future meetings Provide timely meeting notes Is it hot in here, or is it me?

Agenda types

TOPIC

MinutesBudgetBuilding problemsAttendanceNext meeting

ACTION

Adopt minutesDiscuss, amend, and

adopt budgetHear report about recent

building problemsBrainstorm ideas for

improving attendanceSchedule next meeting

Ground rule examples

Arrive on timeListen when another person is talkingNo side conversationsRead info sent to you before the

meetingNo texting during the meetingTurn off cell phonesDon’t roll your eyes when the principal

is talking

Big Tips

You don’t have to do everything

You don’t have to do everything yourself

In fact, it’s better if you don’t

What to do next

Ask questions Return to your previously scheduled programming Do some reading

5 Love Languages - Gary Chapman How to Make Meetings Work - Doyle & Straus Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-making -

Sam Kaner Successful Site-Based Management - Larry J.

Reynolds Rules for Radicals - Saul Alinsky

Explore Enneagram Get some help - talk to process coaches

THANKS